Bloomberg for Mayor 2009
www.mikebloomberg.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Press Office
July 21, 2009 (212) 205-0075
BLOOMBERG CAMPAIGN RESPONDS TO THOMPSON ATTACKS ON THE MAYOR’S EDUCATION RECORD
Bloomberg campaign spokesman Howard Wolfson released the following statement:
“Instead of politicizing the comptroller's office with phony attacks, Mr. Thompson should be explaining his own failed record on education. The facts are clear: When Bill Thompson ran the old dysfunctional Board of Education graduation rates were flat and dropout rates increased. Under Mike Bloomberg's leadership, graduation rates have skyrocketed and dropout rates have fallen. Bill Thompson had a chance to help oversee our schools and he failed. Why would we ever want to go back again?”
Graduation Rates 1996 to 2001: Only Improved 2.7 Percentage Points
2001 to 2008: Up 15 Points
Dropout Rates 1996 to 2001: Increased 4 Percentage Points
2001 to 2008: Down 6.9 Points
Year Dropout Graduation
1986* 21.8% 47.0%
1987* 22.4 44.0
1988* 20.8 47.0
1989* 20.9 45.0
1990* 22.7 44.0
1991* 20.5 46.0
1992 19.1 50.7
1993 18.4 49.7
1994** 18.3 48.0
1995 18.1 48.2
1996 16.4 48.3
1997 15.9 48.4
1998 15.6 49.7
1999 17.5 50.1
2000 19.3 49.9
2001 20.4 51
2002 20.3 50.8
2003 20.3 53.4
2004 16.3 54.3
2005 14.8 58.2
2006 14.6 59.7
2007 13.8 62.0
2008 13.5 66.0
(Number are from Class of 2007 Four-Year Longitudinal Report and 2006-07 Event Dropout Rates, Published August 2008; 2002 to 2007 numbers are also available in DOE Report)
* From 1986 to 1991, discharges were treated differently than today. In order to have rates that are comparable over time, the rate from 1986 to 1991 were recalculated using today’s method.
**For the 1993-94 school year, the chancellor changed the way the board calculated its dropout and graduation rates. The system is no longer taking into consideration students listed as enrolling in parochial schools or those outside the city or in non-Board of Education graduate equivalency programs. (NY Times 12/30/94)
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