Mineola Superintendent Responds to Graduation Rates

A recent article in Newsday prompted a response from Mineola School Superintendent Dr. Michael Nagler at the June 16 meeting of the board of education. The article concerned New York State’s new method of reporting high school achievement which includes the graduation rates for students who take five or 6 years to earn a diploma at the high school level.

“This is the first time I’ve seen the state report a 6 year outcome and a 5 year outcome,” Dr. Nagler said, noting that the Newsday report examined the portion of students in English as a second language (ESL) and special education areas.

The percentage of Mineola students receiving Regents diplomas are 98 percent, with a 1 percent number of “non-completers” or drop outs. “Those are the kids that are finishing ,” Dr. Nagler said of the former number, adding that “the state felt that this wasn’t good enough” and wanted to analyze the graduation data differently.

However the superintendent said Newsday reported the graduation rate for the entire district, including those students who face challenges such as ESL or are in special education classes. “We have many students with disabilities that are outside the high school attending schools all over Nassau County,” Dr. Nagler said. According to the report, 17 such students exist.

The superintendent stated that Mineola’s 6 year graduation outcome for 2004 is at 96 percent, while the 5 year figure for 2005 is 95 percent. The percentage drops for the 4 year 2006 number since the district still has 12 students enrolled for next year.

“Newsday didn’t report 6 year outcomes from a class 2 years ago or 5 year outcomes, they reported this current class which for us we have exceptions to the rule,” Nagler said. “Does that mean our high school is a drop out factory? No, not even close to that.”

Nagler said that he would be producing a “more extensive” report to the board including a Northeast Evaluation Association  (NWEA) report which according to Nagler shows growth in students. The data would be available by the board’s July 8 reorganization meeting.