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Local charter school’s graduation rate tops statewide rate

Charter School for Applied Technologies.

An area charter school's graduation rate tops state and local rates. The Charter High School for Applied Technologies in Tonawanda says it achieved a 97-percent graduation rate for 2014-15, according to numbers released by the State Education Department.

School Superintendent Efrain Martinez tells WBFO News when a student struggles, they provide the right help to keep them on track to graduate and failure is not an option."We do not have failure allowed. No zeros allowed," stated Martinez. "We have a way to re- teach them, give them another assessment and then they get the grade they deserved. They do understand that we will not allow them to fail and they must pass a regents exam."

CSAT reports its rate is higher than some nearby suburban schools, including Hamburg High School, which had a 92-percent rate, Orchard Park High with a 94-percent graduation rate and Williamsville South High School with 95 percent.

Statewide the graduation rate was at 79-percent. In  Buffalo Public Schools the rate was 57-percent.  

Martinez also attributes a longer school day and school year at the charter school for keeping students engaged.

CSAT also noted that of the 109 seniors who were in the Class of 2015 seniors, 91 percent received a Regents diploma, and 46 percent achieved a Regents with Advanced Designation, meaning the students scored a 90 or better on required Regents exams.

"Our graduation rate shows the tremendous hard work of our students and the drive our teachers have for educating each student.  We have a ‘do whatever it takes’ mantra at CSAT, so this is a great honor for our school and our region," stated Martinez. 

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