English-only rise in New York City high school graduation rates

Hight school graduation rates have increased under Mayor Bloomberg - except for students not fluent in English.

While the general graduation rate climbed to 52.2% in 2007 from 46.5% in 2005, the rate for students learning English (called English language learners, or ELLs) dropped from 28.5% to 23.5% over the same period.

Advocates say some city efforts that have improved achievement in general missed the mark when it comes to English language learners.

“We support high standards,” said Deycy Avitia, education advocacy coordinator at the New York Immigration Coalition, “but what we need is the increased resources and strategies to make sure they can meet the higher standards.”

Read full article here: English-only rise in New York City high school graduation rates.