Last month, the UNCC Urban Institute released interactive data relating to graduation rates in our region and across the state. While the region's overall graduation rate rose, Mecklenburg was one of six counties that showed an overall decrease in graduation rates. In fact, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools had the lowest graduation rate in the region, 72.2%.  A shocking 27 school buses could be filled with students who failed to graduate in 2011 from CMS in four years. Yet, CMS also has some of the region's highest graduation rates at individual schools.  This means there is a huge disparity between schools in our county. 

For example, the lowest graduation rate in CMS was E.E. Waddell High School (now closed) with 51.2% graduating. Providence High School had the highest graduation rate, with 93.2% graduating.   This constitutes a 42% difference in graduation rates, which is not seen when only looking at the overall county graduation rate.  

In addition, CMS graduation rates for white students are above average when compared with data across the state. But, CMS graduation rates for black and Hispanic students are below average when compared with state data.   The good news is that graduation rates rose for black students by almost five percentage points (up to 66%) and by 3 percentage points for Hispanic students (up to 57%).

If you are interested in seeing the charts, or exploring graduation rates, please visit the UNCC Urban Institute Site, or interact with education data by clicking here.