Rochester's Graduation Rate Improves ROCHESTER, NY (WXXI) - The graduation rate for Rochester City Schools has risen from 39 percent to 48 percent according to a statewide database released Monday by the State Education Department.

That confirms the City School District's own numbers released earlier this year, and it's about the same as in the rest of New York's "Big Four" school districts which average just over 47 percent.

The numbers cover the cohort of students that entered ninth grade in all city high schools in 2003 and should have graduated in 2007. It's an average of all Rochester students.

Some schools had a much higher graduation rate such as School of the Arts at 87 percent. Others had a much lower rate, such as Edison Tech at 14 percent.

Rochester School Superintendent Jean-Claude Brizard plans a news conference Tuesday to answer questions about the report. Brizard has announced a target of a 72 percent graduation rate by 2012. He says the nine point increase gives him confidence the goal can be met.

The Education Department report says high school graduation rates across New York State are improving. Overall, almost 69-percent of students who started ninth grade in 2003 graduated in June.

Here are the average graduation rates for all Monroe County school districts:

Brighton - 91%
Gates Chili - 84%
Greece Central - 81%
East Irondequoit - 70%
West Irondequoit - 83%
Honeoye Falls - 96%
Spencerport - 85%
Hilton Central - 87%
Penfield Central - 91%
Fairport Central - 94%
East Rochester - 76%
Pittsford Central - 96%
Churchville-Chili - 89%
Rochester CSD - 48%
Rush Henrietta - 84%
Brockport Central - 84%
Webster Central - 87 %
Wheatland - 90% © Copyright 2010, WXXI