While the Governor was making the headlines with his same-old, same-old story about the state of the Commonwealth, the PSS released an important report. PSS has been trying to address the drop-out rate at the public high schools.
And PSS has made steady--and significant-- progress for 5 straight years, which then tapered off and seems to be bobbing about now.
Basically, as I understand it, PSS keeps track of how many students start 9th grade and finish 12th grade, graduating from the CNMI public school system.
2008 MHS graduation
The raw numbers do not subtract for students leaving the system to transfer to private schools or to transfer to schools out of the CNMI, when families move away. The drop may also have related to the new graduation credit requirements, which increased the number of credits needed for graduation from 21 to 28. But basically, even without adjustment, the RATE of completing education to graduate from the 12th grade has been improving.
Using the numbers in the newspaper, here's what the percentage of completion of 12th grade looks like for those who started 9th grade here. (The years refer to graduation dates, I think, not 9th grade dates.)
2001--54.5%
2002--56.6%
2003--67.8%
2004--71.3%
2005--73.9%
2006--69%
2007--70.5%
Whatever PSS did from 2001 through 2005, they were successful in making great strides in the "cohort" graduation rate. And I'm guessing that the fluctuation in improvement rate in the 2006 and 2007 graduating classes may have been due more to the exodus that was occurring as families left the CNMI during the economic downturn. But we are still seeing a vast improvement over the low-50's rate at the start of the century!
I hope PSS continues its efforts to keep cohort statistics and to improve the record on students staying in school through graduation. Whatever strategy they're using, it's been working, and our entire community benefits from having students who stay in school and graduate.
We can simply look at the photos on the front page of the Marianas Variety on August 13th and 14th to see what a difference good leadership and quality management makes.
Kagman High School opened in January 2002. It now looks like this: 
Photo by Mark Penaranda for Marianas Variety
Complaints of leaking roofs in 60% of the classrooms! I've heard complaints that the walls are riddled with betelnut stains, too.
And they need good teachers... The news article is silent about how many of the teachers at KHS have made the grade (passed PRAXIS, gotten "highly qualified" ratings). But it does tell us that the student-teacher ratio right now is at 37:1 (with last year's ratio being 33:1).
When the power goes out, they'll be relying on a bio-diesel back-up generator, paying for that fuel. How many classrooms will that power up?
But compare and contrast: Saipan Southern High School opened half a year later, in August 2002.
Photo by Mark Penaranda for Marianas Variety
They have no serious concerns about the physical state of the school because they have a good maintenance program. The campus is clean and well-maintained, and the students are required to be respectful of the physical plant.
There's the possibility of learning, too. 26 of 29 teachers are highly qualified. Student-teacher ratio is 24:1.
And looking ahead to power outages, SSHS will have windmill power available in approximately November, saving on the cost of utilities.
So now all we need is for the Board of Education to figure out what it did right at SSHS and what it did wrong at Kagman High School.
My take:
The PSS BOE needs to empower its principals and resist the temptation to micro-manage. Because when it allows GOOD principals to act, as at SSHS, the situation works to the benefit of all.
But the BOE also needs to stop the politicking in appointments of principals (and the Commissioner?). And when a principal fails, as obviously is the case in Kagman High School since it's opening in 2002, the BOE needs to demote that person and put in someone who can do the job.
Our students all deserve good schools like SSHS. And if SSHS can do it, there's no excuse for any of the others.
Nerdery Week - It's been decided, so mark your calendars. Nerdery Week shall take place on February 17th - 23rd. Seven days of complete nerdiness interconnected through this world we like to call the internet. You'll meet new people! You'll see where they sit! You'll see all the garbage they keep in their respective workspaces!
But TKT, I'm still confused and a bit scared and there's that thing with the paste. How do I get involved in NW?
Simple, friend:
- Take a picture or two (or eighteen).
- Post it on your blog.
- Write about your workspace.
- Slap 'Nerdery Week' somewhere in the post's title.
- Link back to other people engaged in complete Nerdery nerdism.
On paper this may sound boring as all get-out, but I really don't think it'll disappoint. I'm endlessly fascinated when I see the places where people do their thing (writing, blogging, playing video games, losing auctions, etc). It's an extension of a person's character and I think it'll be fun to celebrate that which makes us all nerdy.
Yes. Even you over there folding your arms and pretending that you're not a nerd. You are. Deal.
Power Up - I know there's nothing people love to read more than what game I'm playing on Xbox 360 these days, so I think I'll just come right out and say it. I'm completely taken by
Call of Duty 4. In a word: WOW. After completely dominating
The Simpsons Game it's a crazy change of pace. One week I'm trying to get the Krusty Koupon off of a billboard high above Springfield, the next week I'm carrying a wounded soldier across a radiation soaked amusement park. Sweet mother of invention, this is the stuff dreams are made of.
Eels - I know I don't need to plug the world's greatest band, but they just recently released two albums that are perfect for those of you wanting to see what they're all about. For the uninitiated, might I suggest:
Meet the Eels? It's a collection of their best stuff from their first 10 years and it's like a primer into their fantastic world. There is some potty-mouth on there, but hey...that's what those parental advisory stickers are for. As a bonus, you get a DVD with a bunch of their music videos. Now that's value!
Their other release is called
Useless Trinkets and it's two discs (2!) of b-sides and songs they've done for soundtracks. As if that weren't enough, there's also a DVD with their 2006(?) Lollapalooza performance on there. What more can you ask for?
Answer: Nothing. There is nothing else to ask for.Goodhalo - Well, it's getting there. I'm hoping to have this monster edited and in enough of a fighting shape to begin submitting to my Top 5 agent-types sometime next month. Ambitious? Yes. Necessary? Most definitely. Plus, I'm itching (itching!) to get working on the second book in the series. It's going to be like 85 pounds of awesome in a 3 pound bag with handles.
Travis: Celebrating 3 Years of Quality - It's going to be my little guy's 3 year mark on Monday, so we're having a party for him on Saturday. Therein lies the problem... Family from out of town are crazy sick. We're talking antibiotics sick. Also, there's supposed to be a major snowstorm hitting us...oh, say Saturday or so. Even though we're not doing a full-scale dinner/activities/all day event, we're worried that people won't be able to make it. Regardless, we've decided that no matter what, this kid is going to have a party that will tear the socks right off of his little Fred Flintstone feet (like I have) and make him explode with happiness. Thy will be done, lil' TKT. Thy will be done.
Dave Attell - I get to go see stand-up comedian Dave Attell tonight at the Pantages in Minneapolis. Holler!
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Is this over a 4 year period? Meaning that this is the percentage of students that started 9th grade and then graduated 4 years later? Or is this just the percentage of students that graduated, regardless of how long it took?
As I understand it, it's the number graduating with their "cohort" meaning they all started freshman year the same year and graduated senior year the same time.
A very small percentage of those who don't graduate with their cohort actually graduate early.