Cleveland schools drop 'academic watch' grade

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland public schools have been demoted to “academic watch,” the state’s second-lowest ranking.

The district received early word on the state ratings coming out next week. The district improved its graduation rate but got a low grade for a measure on whether students learned more or less than expected.

According to The Plain Dealer, district CEO Eric Gordon told the school board Thursday night that he was surprised at the drop in the ranking because Cleveland improved in almost 70 percent of the categories the state measures.

The 2009-2010 graduation rate rose to nearly 63 percent, the highest since state report cards started in 1995.