Giving Compass' Take:

· After adopting new pathways for students to earn their high school diplomas, New York City noticed a dramatic increase in graduation rates. Now, education official are concerned as to the effectiveness of their alternative pathways and whether they really prepare students to be successful after high school.

· How is New York monitoring the success of the different graduation pathways?

· Read more about New York City's graduation requirements and what they mean.

Over the past few years, New York state education officials have approved multiple ways students can earn diplomas, which have contributed to the rising graduation rate in New York City.

Now, some Regents are wondering whether the pathways are actually helping students stay successful after they turn their tassels, and if these alternative routes are accessible for all students.

Graduation rates across the state ticked up very slightly — from 80.2 percent to 80.4 percent. New York City notched its highest graduation rate on record. Most of New York City’s improvement this year, where rates rose by almost 1.7 percent, could be linked to the growing number of students who are choosing to take alternative assessments to earn their diplomas and an expanded appeals process that made it easier for students to graduate despite earning a low score on a high school exit exam.

The state allows students to opt out of a social studies exit exam and substitute other assessments in math, art, or career and technical education. About 11,200 students took advantage of one of these options across the state, up from about 9,900 the year before.

Read the full article about student success after graduation by Reema Amin at Chalkbeat.