Lessons From Two Hawaii High School Graduations
It all comes down to this.
After 12 years, caps and gowns, lei and hurrays. High school graduation. The symbol of student achievement.
We decided to explore the similarities and differences between the occasions at two high schools, one in Hawaii Kai and the other on the Waianae Coast, to learn what they have in common, and what separates them. We hope that by sharing the experience of these two schools what emerges is a telling picture of our education system and how it affects students and families.
At Nanakuli High School, the graduation rate is 49 percent. That means that only 49 percent of students who entered the school in 9th grade receive a diploma four years later.
At Kaiser High School, the graduation rate is 95 percent. Almost no young people fail to make the grade after four years.
About 1,000 students are enrolled at Nanakuli in grades seven through 12, with 114 walking the stage. At Kaiser, enrollment is about 1,000 in grades nine through 12, with 203 graduates.
Aside from location, what sets the two schools apart? Poverty is one thing.
At Kaiser, 69 students are eligible for free lunch. At Nanakuli, the number is nearly seven times higher: 470.
The graduating students at Nanakuli don’t use that as an excuse. If anything, they’re determined to prove that negative stereotypes don’t apply to them.
Thirty-two Nanakuli students walked this weekend with about $385,000 in scholarships for their future education, double the amount for last year’s class. Fifty-six Kaiser students graduated with about $2.7 million in scholarships.
The campuses don’t look that different. But the way they approached the day was definitely different.
The biggest contrast was in how teachers related to students. At Kaiser, before the ceremony, educators met with the students in the gym and shared private words, away from the glare of parents and families. They expressed clear expectations. At Nanakuli, everything seemed more laid back, including the bond between teachers and students. Before the ceremony, students milled about without leadership or words from their faculty or even a class picture.
At Nanakuli, some parents bring extra lei because they think certain other parents don’t make a big enough deal out of graduation. At Kaiser, many bring lei for their graduates’ friends.
In both places, one thing is clearly the same among students and families: Pride in the accomplishment.
But could the difference between adult attitudes and expectations be part of the reason for the different graduation rates?
| Categories | Kaiser High School | Nanakuli Intermediate and High School |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaskan | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Asian | 66.3% | 93% |
| Black | 0.5% | 1.5% |
| Hispanic | 3.2% | 1.7% |
| White | 30% | 3.3% |
| Enrollment grades 9-12 | 979 | 695 |
| Total Enrollment | 979 | 1,056 |
| Free Lunch Eligible | 7% | 45% |
| Reduced-Price Lunch Eligible | 2.3% | 9% |
| Title I School | N | Y |
| Number of 2010 Graduates | 203 | 114* |
| Graduation Rate | 95% | 49% |
Source: Common Core of Data, public school data for the 2007-2008 school year.
*An additional 15 students will graduate this summer after credit recovery classes.
We hope you’ll read these two accounts of how our public education system is serving two populations and share your thoughts in our Education discussion.
