Jonesboro & Hot Springs Dropout Rates Compared & the Chunk Tests program that began in Hot Springs

Jonesboro Assistant Superintendent Kim Willbanks said the 2006 graduation rate at Hot Springs was 80.2%  rather than 56%.  A couple of teachers in emails said we were lying about the graduation rate, so Willbanks is evidently still holding to her statement about the 80.2%.  Here is her quote from her email that I think the board members received after the Hot Springs scores were sent to most of the teachers by email. . "Secondly, we immediately discovered some errors in the chart that was sent.  The graduation rate at Hot Springs is actually 80.2% not 56.4% as listed in the e-mail."  You will find the information in the charts below very interesting.  I don't know exactly how they figure these graduation rates, but Hot Springs has got to be even lower in coming years  if I know anything about figures. And the latest graduation rate they have as of now according to three ADE personnel is 2005.

 In 2006-2007 only 58 % of  9th grade students made it to 12th grade at Hot Springs.   At Jonesboro 84% of 9th graders made it to12th grade. (In 2001-2002,  66% of Hot Springs  9th grade students made it to 12th  grade so the graduation rate is dropping.  (See the charts at end of this document for information copied from ADE website. )

In 2005-2006  only 60% of 9th graders at Hot Springs  made it to 12th grade.  At Jonesboro 77% of 9th grade students made it to 12th grade.

And you did note that the 60 thousand dollar chunk tests program (the Learning Institute)  voluntarily  initiated in Jonesboro began in Hot Springs.  This story was covered by KAIT when she interviewed Kim Willbanks on KAIT.   I had already discovered that face  in my research, but I did not know the cost of it (I know it was a grant, but we taxpayers still paid for it).  The program  just amounts to more testing and less teacher control of curriculum.

2005-2006 enrollment for districts can be found at this link:  http://adedata.k12.ar.us/FY05_06/District/Enrollment%20by%20District%20and%20Grade.ADE

2006-2007 can be found at this link:  http://adedata.k12.ar.us/FY06_07/District/Enrollment%20by%20District%20and%20Grade.ADE

 In 2006-2007 only 58 % of  9th grade students made it to 12th grade at Hot Springs.   At Jonesboro 84% of 9th graders made it to12th grade.

In 2005-2006  only 60% of 9th graders at Hot Springs  made it to 12th grade.  At Jonesboro 77% of 9th grade students made it to 12th grade.

2006-2007 Enrollment by District and Grade - Hot Springs

.   Dropped 130 students from 9th to 12 in 2006-07 -  57%  of 9th graders made it to 12th grade 

LEA	District Name	G       R       A       D       E       S														Un Graded	Total
		K	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	*GED

2005-2006 Enrollment by District and Grade - Hot Springs

LEA	District Name	G       R       A       D       E       S														Un Graded	Total
		K	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	*GED

2006-2007 Enrollment by District and Grade - Hot Springs

Only 58 students dropped from 9th grade to 12th grade at Jonesboro in 2006-2007.  84% of 9th graders made it to 12th grade.

2005-2006 Enrollment by District and Grade - Hot Springs

 Jonesboro dropped 87 students from 9th grade to 12th grade.  77% of students made it from 9th grade to 12th grade in Jonesboro in 2005-2006.  The graduation rate reported by ADE for Jonesboro was 86%

In 2006-2007 the percentage of 9th grade students making it to 12th grade statewide was 76%, 19 percentage points higher than Hot Springs and 8% points lower than Jonesboro's.

2006-2007 Statewide Information System Database

2006-2007 School Enrollment Totals by Grade

http://adedata.k12.ar.us/FY06_07/State/Enrollment%20by%20Grade.ADE

2004-2005 - 58% of students made it from 9th grade to 12 grade;  122  students dropped from 9th to 12th grade. http://adedata.k12.ar.us/FY04_05/District/Enrollment%20by%20District%20and%20Grade.ADE?order=DistLEA%20ASC&current_page=0&lea_per_page=100

2004-2005 Enrollment by District and Grade - Hot Springs

 58% of students made it from 9th grade to 12 grade;  122  students dropped from 9th to 12th grade.

LEA	District Name	G       R       A       D       E       S														Un Graded	Total
		K	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	*GED

2003-2004 Enrollment by District and Grade - Hot Springs

 55% made it from 9th to 12th grade

2002-2003 Enrollment by District and Grade - Hot Springs

61% made it from 9th to 12th grade

2001-2002 Enrollment by District and Grade - Hot Springs

66% of 9th graders made it to 12th grade