Let's Copy Las Vegas!

So, you want to copy Las Vegas ?

In a repeat of last year, Nevada was the lowest-ranking state in the nation with a graduation rate of 47.3 percent.

Clark County's graduation rate is even lower at 46.8 percent, which places it at 43 among the nation's 50 biggest school districts, according to Education Week's annual Diplomas Count study

The graduation rate in Nevada declined by 23 percentage points between 1996 and 2006 while the national graduation rate improved by 2 percentage points to 69 percent.

"Among the nation's leaders, Iowa, New Jersey, and Wisconsin each graduates more than 80 percent of all high school students," said the study, which was released Tuesday. "At the opposite end of the spectrum, just under half of students finish high school in the District of Columbia and Nevada. A gap of 35 percentage points divides the top and bottom states."
Local educators fault the study's methodology but agree that the state has reason to be embarrassed.

"The citizens in Nevada should be up in arms about being at the bottom of the list for education, health care and other social services for their children," said Clark County School District Superintendent Walt Rulffes.



Before we jump on any bandwagon and rush to copy a fad, there seems to be a correlation between predatory gambling and the well being of state residents.