Florida may take second place for the fastest-growing boost in graduation rates over the last decade, but the Sunshine State places first in the entire country for the highest graduation index for Hispanic students.
"Diplomas Count" is published by Education Week, a national newspaper that also produces the "Quality Counts" report on national education.
The 2013 "Diplomas Count" study uses the Cumulative Promotion Index (CPI) to measure the graduation rate index for states around the country. The CPI takes four key steps into consideration to factor its graduation rates: three grade-to-grade promotions (9 to 10, 10 to 11, and 11 to 12) and ultimately earning a diploma (grade 12 to graduation). The study, released last week, showed Florida having the highest graduation index for Hispanic students at 77.1 percent -- higher than the national average of of 68.1 percent.
This is the second year in a row Floridas boasted the highest Hispanic graduation index in the country.
Hispanics constitute the second-highest ethnic group in the country. In 2011, there were over 52 million Hispanics living in the United States. The Sunshine State ranks sixth on the states with the most Hispanic population -- nearly 23 percent of the states population identifies as Hispanic or Latino.
The Foundation for Excellence in Education pointed to Floridas historic simultaneous education reforms as a main component in boosting graduation rates. The statewide graduation rate increased substantially as well -- up 23 percent in the last decade.
But Hispanics werent the only minorities that bested the national graduation average. Black students also graduated at a higher percentage than the national average at 70.1 percent -- the seventh highest graduation rate in the nation. The national average for black students graduating is 61.7 percent. Black students in Florida also showed an equal or better reading level than the statewide average in eight states.
The Sunshine State ranks sixth on the states with the most Hispanic population -- nearly 23 percent of the states population identifies as Hispanic or Latino.
Reach Tampa-based reporter Allison Nielsen at allison@sunshinestatenews.com.
