Style and hype aside, the big slam on KIPP schools has been that it can’t keep its students -- they drop out or return to their old schools where things are easier and less structured, a dynamic that at a certain point sort of defeats the purpose. EdWeek takes a look at this in a recent article: KIPP Student-Attrition Patterns Eyed. “Critics argue that the loss of students at some of the network’s public schools is alarmingly high.” This is gonna make Uncle Jay Mathews very angry, indeed.
Speaking of EdWeek, the 2nd Annual Diplomas Count is here, including a fun interactive map that allows you to view and compare graduation rates by school district. Plus, the site is totally free until June 25 -- no three-story limits or nothin’.