New numbers released Monday by the NY State Education Department show that the high school graduation rate in Rochester for students finishing up by June of their senior year was the lowest among the so-called "big cities" across the state.
Rochester's graduation rate for seniors who entered school in 2009 and graduated by June of 2013 was 43 percent.
That was down slightly (.4 percent) compared to the graduation rate numbers released last year, and it was lower than Buffalo, which was at 46.8 percent, Syracuse, which had a rate of 48.8 percent, Yonkers, at 66.4 percent and New York City at 61.3 percent.
State Education Commissioner John King says overall, the statewide graduation rate was up about a point, to 74.9 percent. King says large achievement gaps remain, particularly with respect to the Regents and Advanced Designation diploma, which requires the completion of additional course work in preparation for college and careers.
The state says the groups at biggest risk of falling into this gap are black and Hispanic males in large city schools. King says the numbers reinforce the urgency of implementing Common Core standards.
