Louisiana set new highs for Class of 18’ class size, number of students receiving TOPS, and is now above the national average in African American graduation rate according to the Louisiana Department of Education.
White says it’s a record setting year, with the highest graduation rate in state history as 81.4 percent of students obtained a four-year-graduation rate.
“A 3.2 percent increase over the year prior, it means that the state has finally hit a long-held goal established by the Legislature to achieve an 80 percent graduation rate.”
40,124 students graduated in the 2018 class.
Superintendent of Education John White says it’s still far from perfect, but the 78 percent four-year-graduation rate for African Americans is worth celebrating…
“Louisiana, which has the second highest percentage of African American students of any school system in the nation, now tops the national average among African American students for graduation.”
76 percent of economically disadvantaged students graduated in four years, along with 60 percent of disabled students, both a year-to-year increase.
Over 50 percent of the graduating class qualified for TOPS, and White says that comes out to 5,000 more kids getting the scholarship assistance than received it in 2012, giving Louisiana students access to vital higher education.
“It is not enough in today’s world to have a high school diploma and to expect to be financially self-sufficient, to be independent, to live a self-determined life, to provide for your family.”
