By Dr. Marciene Mattleman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Jamel Haggens will graduate from Lehigh University next year with a degree in architecture. Jamel is exceptional, having graduated from Ben Franklin High School in Philadelphia where only 17 of the 145 students who entered 9th grade with him enrolled in a four year college.

Of the 16,000 students who began high school at a traditional or charter school in 2006, 36% didn’t even earn a diploma, 28% graduated but didn’t go on to college, and 36% enrolled in a postsecondary institution. Records such as these are the impetus for a total restructuring of the schools.

The Philadelphia Public School notebook’s summer issue is about high school to college – who graduates, who doesn’t and who goes on — what happens to kids before and after leaving high school.

Students, family members and caregivers should read data on all schools before making decisions in the fall about applying for high school, because some schools have far more success preparing kids for graduation and college than others.