Yikes! The AP reports that seventeen of the nation’s 50 largest cities had high school graduation rates lower than 50 percent, with the lowest graduation rates reported in Detroit, Indianapolis and Cleveland. The report released Tuesday by America’s Promise Alliance, found that in the nation’s largest cities only about half of the students in public school systems receive diplomas whereas students in suburban and rural public high schools were more likely to graduate than those in urban public high schools.

Nationally, about 70 percent of U.S. students graduate on time with a regular diploma and about 1.2 million students drop out annually.
“When more than 1 million students a year drop out of high school, it’s more than a problem, it’s a catastrophe,” said former Secretary of State Colin Powell, founding chair of the alliance.
His wife, Alma Powell, the chair of the alliance, said students need to graduate with skills that will help them in higher education and beyond. “We must invest in the whole child, and that means finding solutions that involve the family, the school and the community.” The Powell’s organization was beginning a national campaign to cut high school dropout rates. [AP]

A good education starts with a good teacher. The PBS documentary The First Year offers some insight into the challenges that teachers face when teaching in some of the countries toughest schools. It tells the story of determination and commitment of five novice teachers as they struggle to survive their first year in America’s toughest schools. and visit The First Year outreach page at http://www.pbs.org/firstyear/outreach/ for resources and insight for new teachers and those thinking about becoming a teacher. Also l and visit The First Year community page at http://www.pbs.org/firstyear/resources/community.htm for ways to support education.