Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON (WMAL) – It seemed too good to be true, and an NPR investigation found the 100 percent graduation rate last school year at Ballou High School in SE, D.C. was not the result of diligent students. Records obtained by NPR show dozens of students graduated despite missing far more school days than is allowed.
School records show one in five students graduated from Ballou High School last school year despite missing more than 90 days of school. Half the kids who walked across the graduation stage missed three months of school.
“We think these are extremely important allegations and concerning allegations,” said D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Antwan Wilson at a press conference Wednesday.
Wilson said it’s important that students earn their diplomas, and they need to understand they will only graduate if they show up for class and do their work.
Wilson tasked his deputy chancellors with reviewing what happened, including figuring out how pervasive the problem is at Ballou High School. He said DCPS “absolutely” plans to take corrective action.
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