Some remarkable news that seemed to go "under the radar" was presented by Superintendent Art Rainwater to the Board of Education recently. The data shows increases in graduation rates over the last 10 years among all ethnic groups and especially for African American students.

This remarkable increase caught the attention of Julie Underwood, Dean of the UW-Madison School of Education, who wrote a letter to the editors of local news outlets. MMSD Today shares this with you as a perspective from an objective and respected educational leader.

Celebrate improvement in graduate rates
Letter to the Editor, November 16, 2007

The Madison Metropolitan School District, Superintendent Art Rainwater and the district staff, and the Board of Education deserve to be applauded for increasing the district's graduation rates, especially for African American students, over the past decade.

The district reports that 78 percent of the African American students who entered high school in 2003-04 graduated four years later. That represents an amazing improvement since 1991-92, when just 46 percent of the African American freshmen got their diplomas four years later.

The graduation rate for all Madison students over this period increased from 79 percent to 92 percent.

From the UW-Madison School of Education's deep and multifaceted collaborations with the district and its schools, our faculty and staff recognize and appreciate the high quality of educators in the district and their dedication to the complicated but vital mission of improving education for all students.

The improving graduation rates reflect the district's successes in several areas, including:

• Strengthening the emphasis on reading at all levels.
• Addressing issues relating to attendance, at the district and school levels, as well as for individual students.
• Building strong relationships between school adults and students, especially those most at risk.
• Raising expectations among staff, families, and students that every student can succeed.

Much work remains to be done toward the goal of closing the achievement gaps, but, while it's all too easy to criticize our shortcomings, it's important to acknowledge and celebrate progress.

Julie Underwood
Dean, School of Education
University of Wisconsin-Madison