Report shows Marion Co. grad rate increase

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Statewide graduation numbers released Friday morning show increased graduation rates in Marion County.

• View the report

Rates increased by an average of 4.72 percent for the 2008-09 school year in Marion County’s 11 school districts over the prior year. Countywide, the graduation rate is 73.8 percent.

Since the Indianapolis Chamber began its Common Goal initiative in 2007, Marion County graduation rates have increased six percent.

Representatives from the city of Indianapolis, community and business organizations, educators and superintendents of Marion County’s school districts called for additional attention to keep students in school.

Economic data released by the Alliance for Excellent Education last month demonstrates that when metro Indianapolis students drop out of high school, it has a lifelong impact on the student and the community.

The report showed if the amount of students who dropped out of school during the 2007-08 school year was reduced by half, the additional graduates would earn a combined $42 million in additional wages in an average year.