What Successful Schools Do to Raise Graduation Rates

• Focus on improving the 9th grade promotion rate. This starts with “bridge” programs in the summer for students with low 8th grade scores. New York City has been able to estimate the probability of graduation based on a threshold number of credits upon entering 9th grade. That knowledge makes the summer bridge program an urgent matter.

• Figure out which children are in which cohort at the start of school. This makes the challenge more focused.

• Know the data, know the children personally, and make sure all the other adults do, too.