Published: March 12, 2008 07:23 pm            

TRIBUNE-STAR EDITORAL: A step ahead in graduation rates

Vigo commitment showing results

TERRE HAUTE — The news about Vigo County’s efforts to improve graduation rates for black students is good indeed. There is a long way to go, but the progress the school district is making shows a significant level of institutional commitment accompanied by student achievement.

As the Tribune-Star’s Sue Loughlin reported last week, 63.2 percent of eligible African American students in the Vigo County School Corp. graduated from high school in 2006-07, according to the Indiana Department of Education.

While that number is certainly not great by any standard, it does exceed the state’s 57 percent graduation rate for black students, and does mark an impressive improvement over the previous year’s rate, which was only 48.1 percent.

Vigo County’s success has not gone unnoticed around the state. The Indiana Youth Institute recently called attention to the local efforts, citing them as an example for others to follow.

Among the special initiatives drawing attention is an ongoing effort by the district to recruit and hire more blacks for faculty and staff positions. That initiative has long been promoted by School Board member Mel Burks, who believes that successful, positive role models help minority students build self-esteem and confidence as they pursue their educational goals.

Superintendent Dan Tanoos agrees with Burks’ philosophy and has worked to advance the cause.

It is also noteworthy that the school district is making a concerted effort to improve in an area that does not impact a large number of people. Vigo County’s minority population is less than 10 percent, according to the 2000 Census, and the African American population is only 6 percent.

Burks, Tanoos and all those involved in improving graduation rates for black students deserve credit for a job well done, as do the students themselves.

        

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