Well, we hate to pile on, but the bad news coming out of Raleigh with respect to the Alamance-Burlington school system just keeps on coming.
Graduation rates in the school system during the most recent school year declined: both overall – and at 6 of 7 county high schools. In fact, the rates are back to, actually lower than, pre-2019-2020 levels, when they were 84.5.
We reported last week that the school system’s academic performance was among the 20 lowest in the state. Meanwhile, the graduation rates, compared to other school systems, were only slightly better: by our preliminary count, 25th lowest in the state, among 115 school districts.
Also troubling was the trend in ABSS compared to other school systems. Across the state, graduation rates improved, from 87.0 percent last year to 87.7 percent this year. Meanwhile, ABSS lost 1.8 percentage points, from 86.2 percent down to 84.4 percent.
Now, we suspect most parents, citizens, and taxpayers would think this would be a troubling dimension of the state’s report card released last week.
So, how much time, one might wonder, did school officials or school board members spend discussing that issue at this week’s work session?
Zero.
Nada.
Absolutely not even one word to acknowledge the graduation rates, the decline in the school system’s progress from previous years, or the relatively low ranking of the school system among others across the state. (If you don’t believe us, go view the video of Tuesday’s school board work session.)
That’s part of what’s wrong with ABSS culture. School leadership – both school officials and school board members – avoid, or ignore, grappling with important academic issues that should be their first priority.
