To the discomfort of many a graduate, this week’s heat wave happens to coincide with the last week of classes for D.C. public schools, and students around the city are proudly perspiring beneath their polyester gowns as local schools hold their graduation ceremonies.

In less hot graduation news, Education Week’s annual “Diplomas Count” report has released a dismal assessment of the District’s ability to graduate its students – only 57.6 percent of District 9th graders graduate high school on time, over 10 percent below the national average (which at 71 percent is still pretty darn pathetic). The Examiner reports that “an estimated 11 D.C. public school students are dropping out of the system each day.” Since it’s well known that educational attainment is also a predictor of a student’s future economic prosperity, criminal activity and good health, D.C.’s pathetic ranking should be cause for more anger than embarrassment, especially considering how little it takes to actually graduate from some of our city’s more apathetic high schools.

Nats Play Native Son: One grad who has made good is 23-year-old Emmanuel Burriss, the first DCPS graduate since 1981 to sign with a major league baseball team. An infielder for the San Francisco Giants, former Wilson HS shortstop Burriss had even the home team fans cheering when the Giants played the Nationals last weekend. Nats320 wrote, “And when Burriss lined a single to left off Charlie Manning in the top of the 9th–the first base hit by a DCPS product in Washington in over 38 years–you can bet I–NOT ONLY GAVE HIM A STANDING OVATION–but reminded every single person still sitting in Section 218 the importance of the moment.” Fox 5 has a video interview with Burriss if you want more. (Thanks to the DC Education blog for the link.)