Springfield graduation rate up, dropout rate down

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - More Springfield teens are staying in school and getting their high school diplomas, according to new numbers released by the state.

The statistics, announced Thursday, say that the city’s graduation rate increased 4.5% in the last year; from 52.1% in 2011 to 56.6% in 2012. The dropout rate in Springfield schools fell from 11.7% to 10% over the same period of time.

The release of the data on Springfield coincides with statewide numbers, which found a 1.3% increase in graduation rates across Massachusetts, and a 0.2% decrease in the dropout rate.

Superintendent of Schools Daniel Warwick said that he is “absolutely thrilled” with the trend, and was happy that the city’s improvement outpaced that of the state as a whole.

“Great deals of resources have been invested in helping struggling students who may have quit in the past, now stay in school,” Warwick said.

Despite the progress, Springfield’s graduation rate is substantially lower than the state average, and its dropout rate is higher. The statewide graduation rate is currently at 84.7%, and the dropout rate is 2.5%.