Westford Academy, Nashoba Tech, Significantly Above State Graduation Average

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