Don’t believe graduation rates

The Everett school district’s high graduation rates are nothing more than indicators of a failed system.

Instead of working to bring students up to the requirements, the district has been lowering the bar so everyone gets a diploma. You won’t find it written anywhere, but teachers are under enormous pressure to make sure no student fails — and to do so by whatever means necessary.

There are a number of no-fail classes where students cannot receive an F, the lowest grade is a D-, even if they don’t do any of the work. In one of my classes, this kid didn’t do a single assignment and had zero percent in the class. At the end of the semester, the teacher told him if he wrote his name on one assignment they’d pass him.

It’s disturbing the administrators are more interested in inflated graduation rates than actually helping and preparing students for after high school. But then again, actually helping kids doesn’t get you a pay raise.

Andrew Keck

Everett