Submitted by CARPE DIEM

DETROIT–The Washington, D.C.-based America’s Promise Alliance looked at the country’s top 50 urban centers and found an average graduation rate of 51.8%. The Mesa, Ariz., school district had the best graduation rate, with 71.8%. Detroit Public Schools brought up the rear with a 24.9% graduation rate.

Detroit Public Schools spokesman Steve Wasko declined to comment on the study.

Graduation rates are controversial since they can be calculated in a variety of ways, but the study follows several others that have concluded Detroit has a serious dropout problem to address. A study released Feb. 25 by Michigan State University researchers found a 31.9% graduation rate for Detroit Public Schools students–just 25% for boys, and 39% for girls.

The Michigan Department of Education reported a 66.8% graduation rate for Detroit Public Schools for the Class of 2006.

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