Graduation nightmare in Lakewood

LAKEWOOD, N.J. (WABC) -- Teddy Mack will be wearing a cap and gown in a few weeks, but his mother gives the district a failing grade after news that more than half his class may not be walking with him

"Teachers don't care, administration changes all the time, kids not dealt with one on one, parents not being talked to," Rose Mack said.

Published reports say 248 seniors at Lakewood Senior High School took the state's high school proficiency test, but only 120 passed. 128 failed. The Macks say part of the problem is too many kids missing class, either skipping or being punished. They fall behind and nothing is done to help them catch up.

Students say high school principal Albert Gilson was recently fired. We went to speak to Superintendent Lydia Silva, but we were told she wasn't available. The district's attorney did speak, but said he couldn't say much.

"Can't comment," Alan Schniman said. In response to a question about the low graduation rate, he said, "I didn't hear that. I don't know the numbers."

Graduating senior Brandon Wittmann says students and parents have to shoulder some blame.

"It's not the district's fault. Some kids try. Some don't," Wittmann said.

Teddy Mack sent a letter to New Jersey Govenor Chris Christie last November, complaining about problems here. The governor wrote back, saying the education commissioner would look into his concerns.

So far, the Macks say they've heard from no one.

"It doesn't look good. That's why I'm moving," Rosa Mack said.

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New formula at fault for New Jersey graduation dip?

  Eyewitness News(DATELINE) -- High school graduation rates are lower in many New Jersey school districts because of a switch in the way the state computes dropouts, according to state education officials.

The state released new rates for all public high schools on Tuesday, a day after announcing it was changing the way it calculates the graduation rate.

Officials say the new calculation is more accurate and useful - and complies with federal standards. Schools will now use more sophisticated records to determine whether students who begin 9th grade but do not graduate four years later have dropped out, transferred or died.

The statewide graduation rate under the old formula last year would have been 95 percent. Under the new one, it's 83 percent.

Education officials, though, caution that the rates should not be compared because different methods are used to get them.

Many districts still have graduation rates well above 90 percent, but a handful had graduation rates under 50 percent by the new formula.

"We should approach these results with both confidence and humility," said Christopher Cerf, the state's acting education commissioner. "We continue to be among the leaders in the nation, but we can still do more to make sure every child, regardless of Zip code, has an equal opportunity in life."

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