“We The People”…The Transformation of Increased Graduation Rates
The 2013 high school graduation rate, for minorities, improves at an astonishingly fastest rate!
Knoxville, Tennessee’s Austin-East (A-E) High School increased their African-American student graduation rate from 67.4% to 87.1%. In 2012, this urban school’s African-American graduation rate out paced the national average graduation rate. Below is micro-documentary footage capturing the authentic change process, prior to the improved data. The once failing urban school was revived by the teachers, students and local community.
“They labeled us ‘A-E’ students, ‘Almost-Educated’…now we are ‘Graduates’”-Austin-East Student
The U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) released the 2012–13 high school graduation rates and the trend data is looking AWESOME! Students of color are graduating from high school at a faster rate than ever before. African-American, Latino and American-Indian students are becoming college and career ready at much faster rates; this is exciting trends for the future economy. As the U.S. is projected to become a minor-majority nation by 2050, the current graduation trend is part of a national effort to ensure equity and access for ALL learners. Educational outcomes are some of the key indicators for economic prosperity and a strong democratic society.
So, what is all this excitement about? The data still shows that there is plenty of room for improvement. How can we find authentic blue prints for success? One high school, Knox County’s Austin-East (A-E) High School is a great story of how they enhance their graduation revival. For over a decade, A-E was on the Tennessee Department of Education’s list of failing schools. In 2008, I served as the school’s transformation and redesign consultant, helping the school build a culture of learning that they envisioned and owned. Actually, the team of administrators led by Principal Benny Perry, teachers, students and community supporters did the bulk of the work; they organized and implemented their change process. Local control and self-agency helped to increase the 2007 to 2012 graduation rate of African-American students from 67.4% to an astonishing 87.1%.
