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Graduation Rates. Beyond The Numbers To Student Success. Rainey Knight, Ph.D Superintendent since 1999. Our District. 10,300 students 23 schools: 14 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high , 1 alternative school, 1 technology center 82.4% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch
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Graduation Rates Beyond The Numbers To Student Success
Our District • 10,300 students • 23 schools: 14 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high, 1 alternative school, 1 technology center • 82.4% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch • And yet… • Graduation rate is 93% • Dropout rate is 0.6%
The Approach • Board • District • School • Students & Parents
Board Level • Board sets the tone, expectations & direction. • Shared vision of excellence • High expectations that start at the top • Actively involved in our schools • Strong leadership • Ability to make tough decisions (e.g., policy that only students with 24 units and passing HSAP can walk at graduation) • Communication.
Board Level • Willingness to listen to our people and their ideas (e.g., initiated a separate summer graduation for students who pass summer HSAP or gain required summer school units). • Support, not blame. • Very supportive of our teachers. • Not afraid to try new things…or eliminate or change those things that aren’t working. • Time spent in schools, talking with students and teachers.
District Level • Clear and reasonable expectations. • Data rich. • Drill down data from schools to students. • School goals as set by district.
District Level • Ninth Grade Notebooks • Notebook created for any student who withdraws for any reason • Filed by target graduation year • Maintained for all four years of high school • ALL papers relating to the student’s withdrawal are put into notebook: withdrawal form, requests for records, letters from parents
District Level • Proof of Documentation for graduation rate for audit. • Each high school is assigned a district staff member from the Curriculum & Instruction Department (C&I). • Early deadline for schools to turn graduation rate information and document in to C&I.
District Level • All final submissions to the State Department are done by the District, not the schools themselves! The schools finish the documentation and submit to the district. District audits and verifies information, then submits it to the State Department.
School Level • Set very high expectations at the schools for students and teachers. • Every year the principals are asked to review every student in the graduation cohort and note 3 things: • Are they on track to graduate on time? • Are they missing anything (credits, HSAP, etc)? • What is their likelihood of graduating on time and, if not optimistic, what support/assistance can be provided to the student and family?
School Level • Establish relationships with students early. • Beginning in 9th grade, at-risk students are assigned a school mentor who provides encouragement, monitoring, etc. Student “checks in” with mentor weekly. • Monitor HSAP for every senior & provide HSAP classes. • Meet with students regularly to assess progress.
School Level • Start dialogue EARLY with parents and family of struggling students to help them succeed. • Schools offer credit recovery, afterschool tutoring and sunset school. • Benchmarks beginning freshman year and continuing throughout high school career. • Encourage students to get involved in extracurricular activities. More involved in sports, academic and other activities, the more likely they are to stay in school.
School Level • Be able to account for every child. • Home visits if necessary. • Benchmarks beginning freshman year and continuing throughout high school career. • Encourage students to get involved in extracurricular activities. More involved in sports, academic and other activities, the more likely they are to stay in school.
Students & Parents • Schools meet with students early freshman year to explain expectations and standards. • Individual Graduation Plan (IGP) • ParentPortal and bi-weekly progress reports • Teacher intervention at early signs of distress • Parent-Teacher Conferences • E-mail communication between teachers and parents
To download the presentation orthe documents included in the presentation:www.darlington.k12.sc.use Departments eCommunications e“2013 SCSBA Presentation”
