From the DOE Website

This is regarding drop out rates in Massachusetts

Department Initiatives to Reduce Dropouts
Even if the dropout rate had held steady or significantly declined, we would still be concerned about this issue. The implications of these data are clear: Too many students are dropping out of high school. NO KIDDING.SERIOUSLY

We cannot achieve our goal of college and career readiness for all students if over 11,000 of them each year leave school before graduating. I JUST LEARNED THERE WAS A GOAL TO ALL THIS SO OUR KIDS ARE JUST A NUMBER FOR THIS STATE

We view all of our policies and programs, from full-day kindergarten to academic support to school redesign to educational proficiency plans, as working together to help reduce the dropout rate. That being said, in the coming months, the Department will take a number of important steps aimed specifically at addressing the dropout crisis.