(The Daily Advertiser) – Six of Lafayette Parish’s seven public high schools had higher graduation rates in 2015 than in the previous year.
The state released school-by-school graduation figures Monday. Here is a breakdown of each school’s graduation rate, and its comparison to the prior year:
- Acadiana High: 71.2 percent (4.8 point increase)
- Carencro High: 62.1 percent (2.5 point increase)
- Comeaux High: 79.1 percent (5.8 point increase)
- Lafayette High: 88.1 percent (9 point increase)
- Northside High: 65.7 percent (10.6 point increase)
- Early College Academy: 95 percent (stable from prior year)
- David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy: 91.2 percent (9.1 point increase)
The parish’s graduation rate last year rose to 75.9 percent, a 7.1 percent increase from 2013-14.
Last week, the state also cited Lafayette Parish as a district that saw significant gains in graduation rates among black students. The new data shows that those increases were spread across many schools. Here is the breakdown of each school’s graduation rates among black students:
- Acadiana High: 66.5 percent (7.5 point increase)
- Carencro High: 59.2 percent (10.3 point increase)
- Comeaux High: 73.2 percent (11.8 point increase)
- Lafayette High: 82.1 percent (19.7 point increase)
- Northside High: 66.7 percent (12.7 point increase)
- David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy: 88.9 percent (18.9 point increase)
In a statement, David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy Principal Jeff Debetaz attributed the higher rates to efforts to clean up student data, as well as district support.
“At Thibodaux, we work very hard to individually mentor our students, so that we can keep them in school and on track for graduation,” Debetaz added.
Comeaux High Principal Mary Sonnier said she believes the school’s instructional focus study period has led to higher graduation rates. During this time, students receive remediation in core subjects, as needed. The time also allows for preparation for ACT and PLAN tests, as well as end-of-course exams.
