Graduation Rates

Beyond The Numbers To Student Success

Rainey Knight, Ph.DSuperintendent since 1999

• 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%

Our District

It wasn’t always this way…

District Graduation Rate2007-2012

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

District 0.66 0.82 0.8 0.88 0.884 0.93

5.0%

15.0%

25.0%

35.0%

45.0%

55.0%

65.0%

75.0%

85.0%

95.0%

Perc

ent

Stu

dents

Gra

duati

ng

On-T

ime

Graduation Rate By School

2007-2012

DHS HHS LHS MHS District

2007 0.63 0.62 0.63 1 0.66

2008 0.84 0.73 0.89 1 0.82

2009 0.72 0.81 0.84 0.96 0.8

2010 0.85 0.85 0.96 1 0.88

2011 0.844 0.88 0.945 1 0.884

2012 0.918 0.9 1 1 0.92

5.0%

15.0%

25.0%

35.0%

45.0%

55.0%

65.0%

75.0%

85.0%

95.0%

Perc

ent

Stu

dents

Gra

duati

ng in 4

A

cadem

ic Y

ears

The Approach

Board District School Students &

Parents

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.

Board 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.

District 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.

School Level

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

Students & Parents

Every child. Every day.

To download the presentation orthe documents included in the

presentation:www.darlington.k12.sc.us e

Departments e Communications e “2013 SCSBA Presentation”