Westford Academy, Nashoba Tech, Significantly Above State Graduation Average
Both high schools touted near universal four-year graduation rates for its 2012 seniors according to a recently released report.
Last month, the Patrick-Murray administration announced that just over 4 in 5 high school students were graduating in four years, with students in Westford graduating at a significantly higher rate.
According to data released by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary of Secondary Education, 84.7 percent of the 73,479 2011-2012 senior year high school students graduated, compared to a 98.5 percent figure at Westford Academy and a 98.8 percent figure at Nashoba Tech.
"I am proud to see more students graduating on time, because now more than ever, having a high school diploma is essential to success in our 21st Century global economy," said Governor Deval Patrick in a released statement. "But until we close the achievement gap, our work is not done, and additional investments in education are critical to ensuring all students have the opportunity to succeed."
The state’s average dropout rate also decreased by 843 students with only .2 percent of Westford Academy seniors and .3 percent of Nashoba Tech seniors being classified as a dropout.
Other findings in the report include
- Statewide, 25.3 percent of all dropouts were 9th graders, 25.8 percent were 10th graders, 23.6 percent were 11th graders, and 25.3 percent were 12th graders.
- 2 percent of female students and 2.9 percent of male students dropped out of high school during the 2011-12 school year.
- 42.6 percent of all dropouts statewide were white, 35.3 percent were Hispanic, 16.1 percent were African American, 3.3 percent were Asian, 22.8 percent were students with disabilities, 12.6 percent were limited English proficient, and 59.6 percent were low income.
- 71 percent of 12th graders who dropped out and 48.8 percent of 11th graders who dropped out during the 2011-12 school year had already earned their Competency Determination (had already met the state MCAS graduation requirement).
Here are the results of some high schools in the surrounding area.
| % Graduated | % Still in School | % Non-Grad Completers | % GED | % Dropped Out | % Permanently Excluded | |
| Nashoba Tech | 98.8 | 0.6 | 0 | 0 | 0.6 | 0 |
| Westford | 98.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.5 |
| Lincoln-Sudbury | 97.3 | 2.2 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 |
| Groton-Dunstable | 95.7 | 2.9 | 0 | 0 | 1.4 | 0 |
| Tyngsborough | 95.3 | 1.6 | 0 | 0 | 3.1 | 0 |
| Acton-Boxborough | 94.2 | 4.4 | 0 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 0 |
| Bedford | 94 | 4 | 0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0 |
| Chelmsford | 93.8 | 1 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 3.8 | 0.2 |
| Concord-Carlisle | 92.9 | 5 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0 |
| Littleton | 92.6 | 2.5 | 0 | 1.6 | 3.3 | 0 |
| Ayer Shirley School District | 92.5 | 3.2 | 0 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 0 |
| North Middlesex | 91.7 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 4.9 | 0 |
| Tewksbury | 91.5 | 3.5 | 0 | 1.9 | 3.1 | 0 |
| Billerica | 88.4 | 5.8 | 0.3 | 1 | 4.5 | 0 |
| Fitchburg | 74.3 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 13.5 | 0.3 |
| Lowell | 73.3 | 9.8 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 11.8 | 0.1 |
Ghost
6:20 am on Thursday, February 14, 2013
Interesting data... WESTFORD near the top in everything (including drug exclusions, exponentially more than the others) but we really know what caliber of school WA is when it comes to state and National rankings..... Where. We lag pathetically behind is per pupil expenditure and competitively paying our teachers, we have always gotten a lot and not been willing to pay for it, it worked in the past but we might have gone too far with our cheapness last year as it seems to be coming back to bite us
Nice job Westford students and teachers!
Dan D.
8:59 am on Thursday, February 14, 2013
Per pupil expenditure apparently doesn't have a lot of bearing on the success of the schools. We should be proud that we have had a school system consistently in the top rankings, with a lower cost per student than most other schools. I'm OK with paying the teachers competitively, but keeping the entire cost per pupil down is a good thing.
westford resident
9:12 am on Thursday, February 14, 2013
At one point Cambridge had the highest per pupil spend and had some of the worst schools in the state. Per pupil spend doesn't make the most successful schools. ON another note, I saw an interesting story on Charter schools just the other day. http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/2150165840001/the-rise-of-charter-schools-in-new-orleans/
Sam
8:16 am on Thursday, February 14, 2013
Ghost, if you got your steps and raises last year would you be out pounding the patch, like you have, about the fiscal problem the town is currently in?
Ghost
3:48 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013
Sam, no probably not. Your point?
Sam
4:17 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013
My point is you could care less about the town and it's financial issues. You care about you and your raise only. Just trying to make sure we all understand where you are coming from. Not that we couldn't tell.
Ghost
5:19 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013
Like so many residents and folks from neighboring towns the entertainment value of Westfords bungling has been of great entertainment value, we can also tell a town in distress and decline when we see it and Westford is headed for Billricadom (not that you couldn't tell)
Sam
8:21 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013
We have got it believe me.
Brain Drain: check
Teacher morale: check
Superintendent a fool: check
New hires when we don't get steps: check
Westford turning into Billerica: check
Teachers make more in Acton. Check
By the way folks this guy is teaching your children. Yikes
Jesse James
10:45 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013
I hope not for long either in Westford or anywhere else.
Dan
9:09 am on Sunday, March 3, 2013
While the new SRO 'officer friendly' is checking parking passes dope deals going down inside the building
Patrick Henry
5:09 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
It is my recollection that one of the pushers was a WA teacher. Maybe the first step in cleaning up the drug problem in the town in Westford and WA is to have a mandatory drug screening of all employees and inhabitants of the town to include urinalysis, hair samples, dog sniffing, etc.
I am quite sure that my views will be considered Draconian but I first brought the drug problem to the attention of the school administration and WPD and the response was by WPD "Be careful these individuals play rough and you are endangering your life and that of your family." and by the school administration, "we keep a tight surveillance on our students from 5th grade on up." Circa 1982
Obviously, the SRO will not solve the drug problem at WA. Image Johnny/Sally B. Good being observed talking to the SRO by Mack the Knife, dealer extraordinaire.
BTW Ask your favorite SC member for a copy of the latest Student Risk Survey.
49% of the male and 47% of the female students of the WA 12th grade claimed to have had sexual intercourse.
The questions not asked
1. How many pregnancies
2. How many abortions
3. How many births
4. Did the Westford Health Program adequately provided you with cause and effects of early sexual experiences and their impact of your adult life?