DEARBORN/DEARBORN HTS. — Recent figures released by the Michigan Center for Educational Performance and Information shows that Dearborn Public Schools has improved its graduation rate and trimmed its dropout rate in 2012 at all three of their public high schools-Fordson, Edsel Ford and Dearborn High. 

Dearborn and Fordson high schools  were almost tied with 85 percent and 84 percent, respectively, of their students in the class of 2012 graduating in four years. Edsel Ford trailed behind with an 80 percent graduate rate on time. All of the graduation rates were up respectively.  Showing the biggest improvement from year to year was Fordson, which climbed seven points. Edsel Ford on the other hand saw a three percentage gain, while Dearborn High only improved by one percent.

All three schools have also reduced their dropout rates, according to reports. Edsel Ford’s dropout rate was five percent, Dearborn High’s dropout rate was six percent and Fordson’s was almost at 10 percent, according to the figures.

The district says the turnaround could be due to new intervention programs that were implemented at the schools, which focused specifically on getting and keeping, students on track to graduation. Some students who had not graduated on time were contacted and directed to the right program to help them finish. Other students who were behind on credits were also assisted in these programs as well. The interventionists then monitored the students’ attendance and grades, and kept in touch with the teens to make sure they were staying on track.

Dearborn Public Schools was not the only local district to see such improvements. Over at Crestwood High School in Dearborn Heights, the school posted the best graduation rates for 2012, with 92 percent of students graduating in four years, and less than four percent dropping out. The graduation rate was a seven-point improvement for the school compared to 2011.