Report: 'Dropout factory' high schools up in Ohio

WASHINGTON (AP) — A new report says the number of Ohio high schools considered “dropout factories” jumped from 75 to 135 over the eight years ending 2010, an increase that far outpaced other states.

The data is part of research being presented today at the Grad Nation summit in Washington. The summit has been organized by the children’s advocacy group America’s Promise Alliance, founded by former Secretary of State Colin Powell.

The group defines dropout factories as schools that fail to graduate more than 60 percent of students on time.

With 60 schools added to the category in Ohio, the state had the biggest increase among the states, followed by Nevada with an increase of 19 schools. In terms of numbers of students attending dropout factory schools, Ohio’s increase was about 12,500.