Racial inequality persists in Berkeley schools graduation rates

Berkeley Unified School District recently announced graduation rates have increased at Berkeley High School; however, inequality still exists in opportunities for Berkeley’s declining African American student population.

The four-year Berkeley High graduation rates climbed from 83.8 percent in 2010 to 91.8 percent in 2014. BHS ranks above both the county and state rates of 82.8 and 80.8 percent, respectively, according to data from the California Department of Education.

The Black graduation rate at Berkeley High dropped one percentage point since last year; however, the graduation rate for African Americans has increased nearly 10 percentage points over the past five years, from 78.1 percent in 2010 to 87.2 in 2014.

Black students at Berkeley High fare better than many other schools in the county and the state average, a fact BUSD is proud of. Alameda County’s Black graduation rate is 67.7 percent, slightly higher than the state average of 68.1 percent.

These signs of success may be offset by demographic changes in Berkeley, as well as shifts within the district. Black students are a smaller percentage of those graduating. Since 2010, Berkeley High’s Black graduating student population has declined by 56 students. Black students were one-quarter of graduating students in 2010, now Black students are about one-fifth of all graduates. The total number of Black students graduating decreased from 174 to 152.

At Berkeley Technology Academy, a continuation high school with a majority Black student population, both the student population and graduation rates have declined. Black student graduation rates are down from 62.8 in 2010 to 54.6 in 2014.

Overall, the graduation rate for all Black high school students in Berkeley increased from 75.2 to 81.9 percent over the past five years.

Berkeley High has nearly cut its dropout rate in half over the past five years. The Black dropout rate has been reduced as well, but Black students continue to leave school at higher rates than their peers. At Berkeley High, the Black dropout rate has decreased from 17.1 to 11 percent since 2010. However, the Black dropout at Berkeley Tech has increased from 29.4 to 39.4 percent.

Alecia Harger, incoming sophomore and Pharoah of the BHS Black Student Union said Black students experience frequent discrimination that begins before students enter high school.

“Berkeley High is not always a safe environment for students of color, particularly Black students,” Harger said in an email. “Due to the segregating nature of the small school ‘lottery’ black students are either placed into an environment where they are either scrutinized, and often discriminated against, as a minority in their classroom, or judged and belittled.”

Racial controversy at Berkeley high has been consistent at the campus for the past year. She noted the recent racist text published in the campus yearbook. Last October, a noose was founded hanged on campus. A Black alumnus who was critical of Berkeley Unified's response has been banned from campus since the fall.

Despite these challenges, Black students can and do succeed, but have to seek out resources for themselves, Harger said. More changes need to be made to prepare students before they enter secondary schools.

School district officials did not respond to multiple emails and phone calls seeking comment.

In 2007, Berkeley adopted the 2020 Vision for Berkeley for Berkeley’s Children and Youth. The plan calls equitable outcomes, regardless of race, ethnicity or income, for all Berkeley children entering Berkeley schools in 2007 or graduating in the year 2020.

The Black population in Berkeley’s schools and the city has declined. Ten percent of the city’s population is Black, according to the 2010 census. Nearly 19 percent of Berkeley schools’ students identify as African American, down from 22 percent in 2010. Many suggest that Black students from outside Berkeley city limits attend Berkeley schools; however, the Black population may be younger and many of those students could be part of families who have been displaced from Berkeley.

Photo courtesy of Berkeley Schools.

An earlier version of this story originally appeared in the Berkeley Tri-City Post newspaper and later UC Berkeley-based Onyx Express Magazine.