Camden Superintendent Paymon Rouhanifard just announced that the high school graduation rate in Camden City Schools, which was 51% in 2012 and 56% in 2013, rose yet again to 62% for the Class of 2014.

From the press release:

Graduation rates for students with disabilities are also rising —50 percent in 2014, up from 46 percent in 2013 and 38 percent in 2012. Graduation rates for English language learners rose, too, reaching the highest level in at least three years – 66 percent – and exceeding the District average.

At the same time, the District’s dropout rate—17 percent—is the lowest since 2011.

Not all the graduates were able to pass the HSPA, New Jersey’s current high school graduation test, which will be replaced by the PARCC this Spring. While one-third of Camden’s high school graduates passed the HSPA, 48% of the graduating class relied on the State’s appeal process.

Superintendent Rouhanifard noted,

“With strong support from their teachers, students in Camden work hard to overcome challenges and graduate from high school, and clearly we’re making progress, At the same time, we need to do more to serve all of our students and to equip our graduates with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed beyond high school graduation, in college, or a career.”

“Camden students are extraordinary, and our schools need to make the most of their abilities,” Rouhanifard said. “From pre-school through the time our students begin college, we are rethinking our approach so more students get the excellent education they deserve.”