The findings, released today, are further evidence that a big achievement gap exists between Minnesota’s white students and students of color. Indeed, the Education Week survey shows that Minnesota’s overall graduation rate is 79 percent, one of the highest in the country. The disparity between the achievement of Minnesota’s white and non-white students is one that Minnesota education officials have been fretting over for years. Much of that shows up in the difference in Minnesota test scores.
According to Education Week, 44 percent of Minnesota’s black students graduated with high school diplomas, according to 2002-03 data. By contrast, 83 percent of the state’s white students graduated with diplomas.
Norman Draper • 612-673-4547
Source: Star Tribune, June 21, 2006
