Failed Levies, Falling Grads & Cuts For Newark

CENTRAL OHIO—The Ohio Department of Education released the 2007-08 graduation rates.

While some districts topped the charts, others lagged behind.

Click here to see where your child’s school ranked.

NBC 4’s Marcus Thorpe DUG DEEPER into one Central Ohio district’s challenges.

ODE’s report said Newark City Schools’ grad rate was 68.8 percent, the third lowest in the state.

It has been a tough year for Newark City Schools Superintendent Keith Richards.

Richards told Thorpe the economy affects everyone.

He also said his district is a lot like Archie Griffin: Once someone believed in Archie, he showed greatness.

Richards said he wants the community to believe in its students.

He said if a levy were to pass, he thinks the graduation rate will climb.

In 2005, the graduation number neared 80 percent.

Richards said that was after voters approved three levies and voted for new schools.

Since then, it’s been failed levies, a falling number of grads and cuts.

Plenty of Newark students are looking forward to a bright future. There are lots of success stories at Newark High.

The falling numbers were tough to swallow.

“It’s unfair to them and hard to accept with the positive things happening in the district,“ district board member Robert Handelman said.

With all-day Kindergarten, a special Call For College program and Richards said will be a critical levy vote in May, the district is ready to turn around the mindset of a dropout.

“We have to believe in them. Do I have my concerns? Absolutely. We can’t have 40 percent of kids not graduating. It’s not acceptable,“ Richards said.

For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail .
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video