Letter: Schools working in New Orleans

With the recent release by the U.S. Department of Education of national high school completion rates, New Orleans has cause to celebrate. In terms of graduating students on time, New Orleans has closed the performance gap, outperforming the state and the nation.

States now use a common measurement for high school completion: the percentage of students who graduate within four years with a regular diploma. The data on the graduating class of 2011 show that nationally 76 percent of white students and 60 percent of black students graduated on time.

In New Orleans, 76.5 percent of our students graduated on time:

• Outperforming the national average for white students.
• Outperforming the national average for black students by 16.5 percentage points.
• Outperforming the state of Louisiana (70.9 percent.
• Outperforming Jefferson Parish, Baton Rouge and Shreveport.

New Orleans had 2,051 high school graduates in 2011, 443 more than if we were at the national average for black students, and 657 more than if we were still at New Orleans’ 2005 graduation rate.

This improvement is a game-changer for our students.

Research shows high school graduates are more likely to be employed and less likely to be arrested or incarcerated. According to the Census Bureau, the average annual income for high school graduates is almost $10,000 higher than for those without a diploma, and other studies show households headed by a high school graduate accumulate 10 times more wealth than households headed by a dropout.

Our goal is not just to graduate students, but to give them the educational foundation they need to succeed in college or a career.

In Louisiana, ACT scores and TOPS scholarships help measure this preparedness. The 2012 average ACT composite score for all public schools in New Orleans was 18.2, up from 17 in 2005.

A higher percentage of our graduates also qualified for a TOPS scholarship. TOPS provides two- and four-year merit-based scholarships to Louisiana public colleges and universities based on a student’s grade-point average, ACT score and coursework completed.

In 2005, only 25 percent of New Orleans public school graduates qualified for a TOPS scholarship; in 2012, 39 percent did.

We measure many things in K-12 education, but how well our schools do in graduating students prepared for the next stage in their life is the most-important benchmark.

Before Katrina, the valedictorian of Fortier High School could not graduate because she could not pass Louisiana’s Graduation Exit Exam in math after six attempts over three years. Her plight symbolized the failure of New Orleans public schools.

Then, we were warehousing children. Today, the education reforms in New Orleans are working, and we are providing our students greatly improved educational opportunities.

Leslie Jacobs, founder

Educate Now!

New Orleans

Comments

1) Comment by deutsch29 - 19/01/2013

Sorry for the typo: [e-mail]

2) Comment by deutsch29 - 19/01/2013

Anyone interested in a pdf copy of my comments below, email me at deutsch\[e-mail]. --Mercedes K. Schneider, Ph.D.

3) Comment by deutsch29 - 19/01/2013

RSD-NO 2010-11 Graduation Rates (percentage): Thurgood Marshall Early College High School 87.8% Abramson Science and Technology Charter School 82.1% O. P. Walker Senior High School 74.6% Algiers Technology Academy 67.9% Joseph S. Clark Senior High School no score Walter L. Cohen High School 53.6% John McDonough Senior High School 45.6% Rabouin Career Magnet High School no score Sarah Towles Reed Senior High School 49.6% Schwarz Alternative School no score G. W. Carver High School 55.7% Excel Academy no score Hope Academy no score New Orleans Career Academy no score Sophie B. Wright Institute of Academic Excellence no score I think it is fair to say that Ms. Jacobs’ enthusiasm at the “closing of the achievement gap” is undeniably premature. When one observes that actual graduation rates for the RSD-NO schools that have been assigned such a number, there is quite a gap. Three of the eight schools with scores are above the state 2010-11 graduation rate average of 70.9%; however, the remaining five are below the state average, with half, four of the eight, woefully below average. Jacobs also sensationalizes the “rise” in ACT score average from 17 in 2005 to 18.2 in 2012. However, at this rate of improvement, .17 points per year, it would take 23 years for the ACT average to reach 22, the current score necessary for acceptance into LSU. Finally, Jacobs cites the improved rates of “New Orleans public school graduates” (there’s that nebulous term again) qualifying for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) scholarships. She cites the statistic that 39% qualified. This statistic comes from page 31 of the Cowen Institute 2012 analysis of New Orleans schools (http://www.coweninstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SPENO-20121.pdf); Ms. Jacobs fails to mention that this 39% is for the subgroup of Orleans Parish Public School charter schools and that the rate for New Orleans schools overall is 24%, a 1 % decrease from the Orleans Parish Public Schools statistic she cites from 2005. In addition, in their report, the Cowen Institute cautions readers that “[TOPS] eligibility rates varied by school and school type” (pg. 31). What will further complicate the increase in TOPS graduation rates is that the 2013 Louisiana school performance score calculation will place diminished importance on TOPS completion rates and increased emphasis on advanced placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. By 2014, points awarded to school for TOPS completers will be no more (http://dianeravitch.net/2013/01/07/prediction-score-inflation-in-louisiana/). According to Jacobs, “the bottom line” is to “not just graduate students, but to give them the educational foundation they need to succeed after high school—to be college or career ready.” From the evidence (clearly and correctly) cited in this response, RSD-NO is below this “bottom line.” Stop peddling propaganda, Ms. Jacobs. Your writing reads like an invitation to purchase a time-share in a landfill.

4) Comment by deutsch29 - 19/01/2013

Leslie Jacobs informs the public, “in case they missed it,” that “we have closed the performance gap” in New Orleans’ schools. Not only is this “gap” closed; it happened two years ago, in 2010-11. Somehow we missed it for two years. I must say, I missed this “gap closure.” I have been occupied reading the 2012 school performance scores and letter grades; according to this information, publicized in October 2012 by the Louisiana Department of Education on its website, RSD-NO continues to fare poorly, having received a district grade of D, and this despite John White and BESE’s lowering the graduation rate necessary for high schools to earn so-called “bonus” points. Jacobs also alludes to “Jefferson Parish (67%), Baton Rouge (62.3%) and Shreveport (61.5%).” According to 2010-11 data on the LDOE website, I verified that Jefferson Parish did have a 2010-11 graduation rate of 67.0%. Her next two references, to “Baton Rouge” and “Shreveport,” are not to specific districts. Shreveport is part of Caddo Parish Schools; Caddo did have a 2010-11 graduation rate of 61.5%. “Baton Rouge” is a poorly chosen, arguably misleading term. Jacobs actually cites the graduation rate for only East Baton Rouge Parish Schools (62.3%); however, there is also West Baton Rouge Parish Schools (70.0%). Moreover, some Baton Rouge schools are part of the RSD-LA, and have no 2010-11 graduation rate data available. As to Jacobs’ shining moment, her ultimate point of the article, that “in New Orleans, 76.5% of our students graduated on time”: First, one must consider the unclear term, “New Orleans.” This is the name of a city, not a school district. There is Orleans Parish Schools, and its 2010-11 graduation rate was 93.5%. This begs the question: Why focus on 76.5% as the evidence of “New Orleans success” instead of Orleans Parish Schools’ 93.5%? Furthermore, Orleans Parish received an A on its 2012 district report card. LDOE does not report a district percentage for RSD-NO 2010-11 graduation rate. How Jacobs arrived at 76.5% is a mystery to me. Perhaps she took the overall 2,051 graduates “in New Orleans” and divided by the number of 2010-11 students classified as seniors “in New Orleans.” Doing so would certainly paint a fairer picture than does the detailed account posted on the LDOE website for RSD-NO (continued in my next post):

5) Comment by bourbon-soda - 16/01/2013

I noticed in nola.com that Tulane fudged its business school student statistics for a high ranking, and George Washington U did the same for its undergraduate statistics. High position and status are no guarantee of integrity. Some years back they figured that almost every highly selective college in the country was fudging, mainly by counting only those freshmen admitted on a purely academically competitive basis - no affirmative actions, legacies, athletes, etc. This all involves money. Education is not a monastery.

6) Comment by bourbon-soda - 16/01/2013

Thanks, I appreciate it.

7) Comment by Noel Hammatt - 16/01/2013

@bourbon-soda: Simpson's Paradox is what I think you are referring too. In almost every case where we see huge gains in a short period of time... there is cheating, or manipulation of test scores by groups wanting to tell a lie to support their agenda. When we look at other measures than the ones they are using, sudden;y gains get "cut down to size." I used to teach this to my students, so they would not be taken in by companies guaranteeing these great results.

8) Comment by bourbon-soda - 16/01/2013

Real change in educational outcome occurs so imperceptibly that any claim to the contrary is suspect for fraud, demographic shift, or both, rather than actual increment in achievement. This has been going on for decades from all ideological players. Noel, you referred in earlier discussions to apparent statistical paradoxes similar to the "Will Rogers effect." If you remember what you posted and it's not too much trouble, I would appreciate some lead to them so I can read about them.

9) Comment by tradewinns - 16/01/2013

based on the percentages presented here, there must be very few black students in N.O. black students in N.O. exceeded the average by 16.5%. the total of both exceeded the average by ,5%. the article states the white students exceeded the avg of 76% w/o giving by how much but the black students exceeded by 16.5%. yet the total only increased by .5%. just doesn't make sense unless there were very few black students.

10) Comment by [e-mail] - 16/01/2013

Stuff and nonsense!

11) Comment by Noel Hammatt - 15/01/2013

There is no hard data that can be verifiedto back up these claims. We know that Leslie Jacobs has been provided information in the past from the Department of Education that no one else was allowed to get, but we cannot find anyone who can verify these claims she makes here. The Department of Education refuses to release data that was regularly provided to researchers just a few years ago. Now they say they are only going to release the data to groups that are already pre-disposed to go along with their "Louisiana Believes." Think about all the failing schools in New Orleans, (80% of the RSD schools are D or F schools) and they make this claim? We know that the elite (and selective) charters are doing well, and we also know that the "T" schools in New Orleans are being used as dumping grounds and then their scores are not being used. Put all your low scores in a few schools and let them disappear. It does wonders to you narrative. Serious doubts exist. As for the oft-repeated claim about the valedictorian... I wonder if any of your children ever had test anxiety? I knew of a Summa Cum Laude graduate of LSU who could not pass a particular standardized test. Doesn't really mean anything. She did manage to also achieve a Master's Degree with honors as well. Tests are not the only measure of a person. Sorry Leslie, but your claim needs to be verified. And by the way, the Department of Education in Washington (which is always gushing over New Orleans, and apparently is the ONLY group that believes there was not major cheating in DC under Rhee, has said the data is "preliminary" and was purely based on what was provided by the state. Yep, somehow the state of Louisiana does not want researchers looking at any data! I wonder why.