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Four-in-Five Indy Black HS Students Graduated On Time Last Year

Amos Brown — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:59:47 +0000

Continuing a strong multi year increase, four year graduation rates for Indiana’s high school students, including African-Americans, continues to improve.

Graduation data for the Class of 2011, released Tuesday (Feb 7th) by the Indiana Department of Education, reported that, statewide, three-in-four (75.2%) of Black high school students in the Class of 2011 graduated on time.

That’s up a bit from 72.2% last year and up sharply from 2009 (65.9%) and 2008 (59.5%).

The graduation rate for all Indiana 2011 high school graduates was 85.7%; up slightly from 84.1% in 2010, 81.6% in 2009 and 77.8% in 2008.

The statewide gains were repeated among African-American graduates in Indianapolis/Marion County and the metro area.

Of the city/county’s eleven public school districts and nine public charter high schools, 77.6% of the African-Americans in the Class of 2011 graduated on time; in four years. Excluding charter school graduates, the Black graduation rate in Indianapolis was 79.5%.

And including suburban school districts with sizable Black enrollments, the Black graduation rate of the Class of 2011 was 78.4%. Excluding charters, the graduation rate was 80.2%.

PraiseIndy.com analyzed African-American graduation rates in school districts with the largest number of Black high school students in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area. Of the districts analyzed, African-American graduation rates rose in seventeen districts or charters and declined in six.

At 64.2%, the Indianapolis Public Schools continues to improve with the highest Black graduation rate since the state changed how graduation rates were calculated several years ago.

IPS’ Crispus Attucks Medical Magnet and Wayne Township’s Ben Davis University High School had perfect Black graduation rates of 100%.

Rounding out the top ten Black graduation rates for area high schools were: Brownsburg (97.7%), Avon (93.0%), Key Learning Community (92.9%), Mt. Vernon Community (92.9%), Herron (the top performing charter high school at 91.9%), Pike (90.1%), Noblesville (89.5%), Carmel (88.9%).

Next were: Warren Central (88.7%), Ben Davis (88.4%), Speedway (88.2%), Fall Creek Academy (87.5%), Franklin Central (87.2%), Manual (87.2%), Hamilton Southeastern (85.4%), Lawrence Central (85.3%), Charles Tindley (84.6%), Southport (83.6%), Lawrence North (83.1%), Perry Meridian (82.5%), Fishers (82.2%), Decatur Central (79.5%) and North Central (77.4%).

Black graduation rates for other IPS high schools were: Arlington (76.7%), Broad Ripple (73.7%), George Washington (66.7%), Howe (65.1%), Northwest (62.4%) and Arsenal Tech (61.9%).

Reported Black graduation rates for Indianapolis charter high schools are mixed. While Herron, Charles Tindley and Fall Creek Academy have strong Black graduation rates other schools had mixed results.

The now closed Stonegate Early College High School’s Black graduation rate was 69.2%; Irvington Community HS (46.7%). Two charter high schools which focus on students re-entering school to complete their education; which can be longer than four years, had mixed results. Indianapolis Metropolitan High school’s Black graduation rate was 41.9%. But the Excel Center’s Black four year graduation rate was 0% because that school’s students take longer than four years to finish school.

Because of that, the Black graduation rate for Indianapolis charter high schools is just 50.0%. Factoring out Excel and Indianapolis Metropolitan, Black graduation rates for charters rises to 78.5%.

Graduation rates in Indiana are computed by tracking each individual student in a high school’s freshman class for four years. Students not included in the graduate rate are not all dropouts. They include students who receive a GED diploma, or a certificate of Completion, or drop out.

Read the table comparing the percentage of Black students statewide and in key Indianapolis school districts and charters who graduated from high school within four years over the last five school years.

CLASS OF 2011 BLACK FIVE YEAR GRADUATION RATES

MAJOR INDIANAPOLIS AREA SCHOOL DISTRICTS

SCHOOL CORPORATION/CHARTER	Class 2011	Class 2010	Class 2009	Class 2008	Class 2007
STATEWIDE	75.2	72.2	65.9	59.5	56.7
MSD Decatur Township	79.5	78.4	83.3	58.7	67.9
MSD Franklin Township	87.2	74.3	52.9	69.2	51.4
MSD Lawrence Township	84.3	83.0	79.7	72.4	71.7
MSD Perry Township	83.1	71.3	71.4	68.9	59.8
MSD Pike Township	90.1	89.3	85.6	72.0	69.3
MSD Warren Township	86.5	71.8	67.3	60.9	72.1
MSD Washington Township	77.4	83.4	79.1	75.8	77.3
MSD Wayne Township	89.1	85.9	74.8	65.0	65.8
Indianapolis Public Schools	64.2	58.3	49.3	50.1	47.0
Hamilton Southeastern Schools	83.7	79.0	83.5	77.8	79.6
Avon Community Schools	93.0	87.8	90.9	69.4	84.4
Brownsburg Community Schools	97.7	80.5	78.8	74.1	N/A
Carmel-Clay Schools	88.9	86.2	80.0	N/A	N/A
Mt. Vernon Community Schools	92.9	88.5	71.4	N/A	N/A
Noblesville Schools	89.5	80.0	N/A	N/A	N/A
Speedway Schools	88.2	100.0	83.3	N/A	N/A
Fall Creek Academy Charter	87.5	76.9	33.3	N/A	N/A
Charles Tindley Charter	84.6	83.3	60.9	N/A	N/A
Stonegate Early College Charter	69.2	79.4	81.5	N/A	N/A
Indianapolis Metropolitan Charter	41.9	56.5	71.4	N/A	N/A
Irvington Community Charter	46.7	60.0	N/A	N/A	N/A
Herron Charter	91.6	85.4	N/A	N/A	N/A
Excel Center Charter	0.0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Black Coaches, Execs Honored At Unique Super Bowl Week Event

Amos Brown — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:05:07 +0000

Six African-American top executives of NFL teams, two African-American head coaches and former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagilabue were honored at a unique event during Super Bowl Week in Indianapolis. The Fritz Pollard Alliance Foundation honored these trailblazers in at the 7th Annual Johnnie Cochran “Salute to Excellence Awards, held at Eastern Star Church. The Fritz Pollard Alliance is an organization of NFL executives and others who work to increase access and opportunities for minorities interested in coaching, front office and scouting positions in the National Football League.

The Alliance is an outgrowth of efforts by the late Johnnie Cocrhan who pressu who, with others, pressured the NFL for better minority inclusion. That resulted in the Rooney Rule, created by Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney which requires NFL teams to interview minorities for head coaching and top executive positions. Rooney, currently American Ambassador to Ireland, also attended the event.

Honored at the event was former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue who is the first recpient of an annual award in his name.

African-American NFL executives honored were: Sheldon White, VP/Pro personnell and Martin Mayhew General Manager Detroit Lions; Reggie McKenzie, General Manager Oakland Raiders; Rick Smith Exec VP/General Manager Houston Texans, Ozzie Newsome GM/Executive VP Baltimore Ravens and Rick Smith Sr VP/General Manager New York Giants.

Two head coaches, Cincinnati Bengals Marvin Lewis and Pittsburgh Steelers Mike Tomlin were also honored.

Indy’s Media Legend Amos Brown; Meets DC’s Media Legend Jim Vance At Super Bowl

Amos Brown — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:36:33 +0000

Click Above to Hear Interview. Runs Four Minutes ©2012 WTLC/Radio One. Two African-American media legends, one from Washington, DC; and one from Indianapolis met for the first time during Media Day at Super Bowl XLVI here in Indy. Jim Vance is the Lead Anchor for WRC-TV, the NBC-owned station in the Nation’s Capitol. He’s in Indy for the Super Bowl along with anchors from the other NBC-owned stations. (NBC broadcasts the Super Bowl).

In the media business and among African-American journalists and media, Jim Vance is a living legend. A reporter since 1969 and an anchor since 1972, Vance has had a four decade career reporting the news in the news capitol of the World. Winner of 17 Emmy Awards, Vance is a member of the Hall of Fame of the National association of Black Journalists and the DC Journalists Hall of Fame.

It was a honor to meet a media pioneer and trailblazer. Click the interview above and hear more from this broadcasting legend.

Amos Rides The Bus!

Amos Brown — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:58:13 +0000

Some events are just plain out of our control. You are about to see one of them in progress. This morning while on the way to get some exclusive content for the Super Bowl XLVI Media Day we ran into an issue. WE COULDN’T GET OFF THE BUS! We were almost castaways in our own city! As the uncertainty and frustration mounted AM 1310 The Lights own Amos Brown took action! He pulled out his phone, begin dialing and proceeded to call someone who could possible rectify this situation….Who? Well check out this video and see for yourself.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

written by @itsthecaptain

On His Birthday, Kirk Franklin Talks With Amos About Upcoming Indy Visit

Amos Brown — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:16:26 +0000

Audio Included in Post. Runs 7 Minutes ©2012 WTLC/Radio One. Thursday, January 26th was gospel superstar Kirk Franklin’s birthday. In an exclusive interview, Amos talked with the gospel music legend about his music, upcoming projects and surviving a Super Bowl. During the interview, Amos broke the news that Kirk Franklin will be appearing at Butler University’s Clowes Hall, Friday, February 10th for Butler’s Celebration of Diversity Lecture series. The event starts at 7:30pm, and is free, but tickets must be obtained in advance. Click below for more info.

Kirk Franklin at Clowes Hall, Fri Feb 10th

Reggie Wayne Talks To Amos About His Future, New Colts Coach

Amos Brown — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:02:09 +0000

Click Above to Hear Full Interview. Runs 9 Minutes ©2012 WTLC/Radio One. Indianapolis Colts Star Receiver Reggie Wayne talked to Afternoons with Amos about changes in the team, including new Head Coach Chuck Pagano. Wayne told Amos that Pagano was a defensive assistant coach at the University of Miami when Wayne played there. Wayne praised Pagano. He also commented on the changes in the Colts organization, his future with the team. Wayne also told listeners he’s looking forward to the Super Bowl activities and events. Wayne talked to Amos from IPS School 14 where Wayne and NFL Partner Verizon announced the school had received $20,000 as part of Verizon’s $46K for 46 Play program which is donating a total of $46,000 to Indianapolis non-profits as part of the Verizon’s Super Bowl community efforts.

AFL-CIO Head Tells AWA Union Members “Could Exercise Their 1st Amendment Rights” During Super Bowl Week

Amos Brown — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:44:20 +0000

Click Above to Hear Interview. Runs 14 minutes ©2012 WTLC/Radio One. AFLCIO President Richard Trumpka said that union members "could exercise their First Amendment Rights" during Super Bowl Week in Indianapolis. Trumpka made his comments during an exclusive interview on WTLC-AM's Afternoons with Amos program Wednesday. Trumpka told host Amos Brown that the AFLCIO is "gonna be looking at the Super Bowl. We think it has some great opportunities for us to exercise our First Amendment rights". Hear the full interview a... Read more..

President Barack Obama’s State Of The Union Speech

Amos Brown — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:34:57 +0000

Click Above to Hear the Speech. Runs 66 Minutes. President Barack Obama delivered a forceful State of the Union Speech during a Joint Session of Congress Tuesday Night. The President addressed a number of themes, pointing out the successes of his Administration from the return of the American auto manufacturing industry, to the taking out of Osama bin Laden. The President talked about economic fairness, about putting Americans back to work and about the Congress working together to help all Americans. Listen to the Pre... Read more..

GOP Governor Candidate Jim Wallace Talks Issues With Amos

Amos Brown — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 16:19:12 +0000

Click Above to Hear Full Interview. Runs 39 Minutes ©2012 WTLC/Radio One. Jim Wallace is the other candidate running for the Republican nomination for Governor to succeed Gov. Mitch Daniels. Wallace, a West Point graduate and businessman who worked for the Daniels Administration and earlier for Mayor Steve Goldsmith appeared on Afternoons with Amos to talk issues with Amos and listeners. Wallace talked about putting Hoosiers back to work, the role of government in servicing people, jobs for ex-offenders and more. Hear the f... Read more..

Tony Dungy Talks Frankly About Coach Caldwell, Colts, Super Bowl, Being A New Dad!

Amos Brown — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:35:18 +0000

Click Above to Hear Full Interview. Runs six Minutes ©2012 WTLC/Radio One. Along with other media and journalists, I got to talk Thursday with former Colts Coach and NBC Football Analyst Tony Dungy who was in town to celebrate the Grand Remodeling of Indianapolis’ Walgreen’s’ Stores. Tony Dungy talked openly and honestly about the firing of Coach Jim Caldwell and how he was doing saying “Jim has a lot of Faith, just as I did. The Lord has his future under control and Jim is not worried”. Dungy also talked about Peyton Manning and the future of his former team. I also asked Tony about how he feels about doing NBC’s Super Bowl Broadcast and the Super Bowl fans who’ll see his mural inside Lucas Oil Stadium. I also congratulated Tony and his lovely wife Lauren on the new addition to their family; an eighth child, who is adopted. Hear above the comments and feelings of this remarkable man of insight and Faith.