New York City graduation and dropout rates are not what they seem — at least according to a new audit from the state’s comptroller, Thomas DiNapoli.
Auditors from the comptroller’s office found that for the 2004 through 2008 school years, the dropout rate may have been as high as 16.5 percent, rather than the 13 percent touted by the city’s Department of Education.
These new numbers mean that the graduation rate may in turn have been as low as 62.9 percent, rather than the 65.5 percent reported by the DOE.
“The city school system needs to sharpen its pencils when it comes to knowing which kids are dropping out and which kids are transferring to another school,” said DiNapoli in a statement.
DiNapoli found some high school dropouts who were improperly categorized as “discharged” — a category for students who die or transfer to another school, said a Department of Education?spokesman.
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