STUDENT OUTCOMES
College/Career-Ready Graduates
The number of graduates who reached KY’s college-/career readiness (CCR)
benchmarks in NxGLA districts rose from 6,093 in 2012 to 8,133 in 2014; that
represents an increase of +16.1% from 48.8% to 64.9%. See chart in Appendix A.
Graduation Rates
Because of the change from Averaged Freshman Graduation Rate (AFGR)
calculation to Cohort Graduation Rate in 2012, we have limited data available
for comparison purposes at this time. The number of graduates in NxGLA
districts rose from 12,300 in 2012 to 12,524 in 2013; that represents an increase
of 1.9%. The Graduation Rate chart in Appendix A illustrates that all KY districts
(NxGLA and non-NxGLA) are experiencing similar trajectories toward increased
graduation rates.
College-going Rates
Counterintuitively, as Kentucky high school graduation rates have increased,
the state has seen a slight decline in college-going rates – down 1.1% from a
rate of 61.4% in 2010 to a rate of 60.3% in 2013. Most analysts believe that the
decline is due, in part, to a steadily increasing number of high school graduates,
many of whom would have been drop-outs in the past and some of whom have
no desire to pursue college. Increasing college tuition rates are also a likely
contributing factor. Fortunately, because graduation rates have increased, the
actual number of KY students enrolling in college directly from high school
each year is on the rise.
Advanced Placement Exam Passing Rates
An analysis of AP exam results from the 2012-13 and 2013-14 academic years
(the only data currently available statewide) shows that NxGLA districts have
improved their AP exam passing rates. In 2012-13, NxGLA districts posted a
passing rate of 56.8%, which increased 0.9% to 57.7% in 2013-14.