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PSS: Enrolment slightly up, graduation rate improving
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Posted on Sep 15 2005
Enrolment in public schools in the elementary and high school levels recorded a 1-percent increase this year even as the graduation rate of students showed remarkable improvements in the last three years, according to a report presented yesterday by the Public School System.
The report, presented by Education Commissioner Rita H. Inos during the Saipan Rotary Club’s Vocational Summit held at the Aqua Resort Club, showed that total of 11,718 are enrolled in PSS this 2005-2006 school year, up from last school year’s 11,599.
Even though the graduation rate has been going up and down in the last five years, Inos noted that the last three years—from 2001 to 2004—showed a significant increase from 55 percent to 71 percent.
The report also noted that Rota represented the highest increase in the number of grade school and secondary school students, as 70 new enrollees bumped this year’s total to 679 from 2004’s 609 students.
Tinian followed with 32 additional students, which hiked its elementary and high school population to 690. Saipan only had 17 additional students this year, but its current grade school and high school population still dwarfed Tinian and Rota combined, with 10,349 enrollees.
Inos also presented a report on the student ethnic enrollment during the summit, which showed a 3-percent decrease in enrolment for students of Chamorro descent. Last year there were 5,590 Chamorro students but now it’s down to 5,293.
The number of Filipino students increased by 2 percent from last year’s 2,368 to 2,588 this year. The number of Carolinian students also increased by 1 percent from last year’s 1,603 to 1,729 students this year. Students who trace their parentage from citizens of the Freely Associated States decreased by 1 percent from 1,479 to 1,426 this year. Students with other ethnic background increased from 579 to 682 this year.
Inos said there are currently nine centers for the Head Start Program for children 3- to 5-years-old. There are 12 elementary schools and four junior high schools and five senior high schools.
The PSS also has 15 public schools accredited for six years by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and five schools accredited for three years.
