SPRINGFIELD – Speaking about the newly released graduation figures, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno said, “It’s unbelievable the turnaround in rates that have occurred.”

Sarno joined with School Superintendent Daniel Warwick, many of the city’s school principals and members of the School Committee on Feb. 14 to announce a dropout rate of only 4.4 percent. The dropout rate was 10 percent in 2012.

The news came from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s release of statewide statistics.

Warwick attributed the dramatic decrease to many initiatives the district has implemented to help students reach their goals and to stay in school, but added “the most important thing is quality leadership and dedicated staff.”

He added teachers use data on each student to determine what programs to use to support that student.

In terms of graduation rates, the High School of Science and Technology is now at 85.6 percent graduation rate, Central is at 89.6 percent and Putnam is at 91.5 percent. In 2012, they were at 39.9 percent, 74.6 percent and 71 percent, respectively.

The drop out rates at those schools are as follow: The High School of Science and Technology was at 11.6 percent in 2012 and went to 3.9 percent in 2019; Central High School’s dropout rate went from 7.7 percent in 2012 to 2.3 percent in 2019; and Putnam went from 5.1 percent to 2.3 percent.

Warwick explained that part of the increased rates of graduation are due to putting students in various recovery programs that allow them to complete school by attending alternative high schools or by attending classes at non-traditional times.

Warwick noted that he and other officials “are not satisfied with this rate. We want 0 percent of dropouts.”

School Committee Vice Chair Christopher Collins said there is a new generation of Springfield students who value education. He called the new rates “monumental.”

Sarno noted the district has been visited by education officials from other communities to see what Springfield is doing.

Dr. Thaddeus Tokarz, principal of Central High School, said the support educators have from the mayor, the superintendent and the School Committee “has greatly impacted these non-traditional opportunities.”

He added the high school principals are now working more collaboratively together.