School Information System

While these numbers look good, I confess I would have more confidence in them if they matched the data from DPI (see
http://data.dpi.state.wi.us/data/graphshell.asp?ORGLEVEL=DI&FULLKEY=02326903ZZZZ&DN=Madison+Metropolitan&SN=None+Chosen&GRAPHFILE=HIGHSCHOOLCOMPLETION).

For instance, MMSD reports 4 year graduation rates for African American students as being 76% in 2005 and 72% in 2006, but DPI reports that those numbers are 60.9% and 64.6% respectively.

For more examples of discrepancies between MMSD and DPI, see http://www.schoolinfosystem.org/archives/2007/08/where_does_mmsd.php

The story in the MMSD today has the reason for the discrepancies.

"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."

DPI includes all students who graduated, including students who transfered to mmsd from other districts.