Today's Globe has a story on p. A21 titled "Rapid rise found in 10th-grade dropout rates." "Analyzing three decades of federal enrollment statistics for all 50 states, researchers found that the rate at which ninth-grade students do not reach 10th grade has tripled." One reason for this rise in dropout rates, according to this study, is the prevalence of high stakes tests which must be passed to graduate. The researchers said that poorly performing students will drop out or be pushed out by schools eager for good scores. The drop out rate in Lowell is high, especially among minority students. This is an area that deserves scrutiny because, as this study says, high dropout rates "have dire consequences not just for these young people but for society as a whole." Congratulations to the New England Patriots on a great win today.