• 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
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
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
To download the presentation orthe documents included in the
presentation:www.darlington.k12.sc.us e
Departments e Communications e “2013 SCSBA Presentation”