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Local Graduation Rates Score Above State Average

By Beacon Staff

For years Montana had one of the highest dropout rates in the nation. But after a concerted effort by state officials and local administrators, the number of students staying in high school and graduating has been increasing.

There were 130 fewer students statewide who abandoned school last year compared to the previous year. The statewide average dropout rate fell to 4.1 percent in the 2011-12 academic year, a full 1 percent lower than four years ago and 3 percent lower than in 2000-01, according to the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

The statewide average graduation rate rose to 83.9 percent in the 2011-12 school year, more than 3 percent higher than 2008-09, according to the state’s 2012 Graduation and Dropout Report released last week.

“This is great news. I’m really pleased with these numbers,” said Denise Juneau, the state school superintendent who has made improving graduation rates a priority since being elected in 2008 and reelected last year. “This year was again great news. The data is trending in a great direction.”

The combined graduation rate for Kalispell’s two public high schools was 86.5 percent last year, almost 13 percent higher than two years ago when it was 74 percent.

Individually, Glacier had a graduation rate of 87.3 percent and Flathead’s was 85.8 percent. Columbia Falls had a 90.4 percent mark and Whitefish’s was 88 percent. Bigfork scored the highest among local schools, graduating 94.6 percent of its students within four years of freshman year.

“We feel really positive about this,” said Darlene Schottle, the superintendent of Kalispell Public Schools. “Looking at the general trend in both the graduation and the completion rate, that is really important that they’re both going up.”

Flathead, which had 1,483 students enrolled in fall 2011, had a dropout rate of 4.2 percent. Glacier, with 1,268 students, had a dropout rate of 3.7 percent. Bigfork, with 259 students, again ranked best with a 1.9 percent dropout rate. Columbia Falls, 721 students, had a 4.2 percent rank and Whitefish, 501 students, had a 3.6 percent mark.

Schottle attributed the local improvements to several changes that have focused on helping students stay in school and the hard work of teachers and principals at all grade levels. In the past three years, high school students who have fallen behind or failed classes could enroll in credit recovery programs over Christmas break or during the summer. There is also Montana’s Digital Academy, which allows students to take online courses for credit. Teachers and administrators have also tailored unique resources to students’ needs.

“Our principals and our teachers have been working so hard and have been so focused on this, so I’m really pleased,” said Dan Zorn, the assistant superintendent. “We’re just trying to meet the needs of kids and our folks are doing a lot of good.”

In 2010, the Annie E. Casey Foundation released a report ranking Montana tied for 44th worst in the nation for dropout rates.

The recent state report did show that the dropout rate among American Indian students in grades 7-12 increased from 6.9 percent to 7.1 percent last year. The graduation rate among Montana’s American Indians was 62.9 percent.

Juneau launched the statewide Graduation Matters initiative in 2010 in response to worsening rates. Today nearly 30 communities are on board, including Kalispell, Polson and Libby. With the help of almost $500,000 in grant money from the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, Graduation Matters has helped schools establish community networks and local programs aimed at combatting dropout rates. Juneau recently announced another $150,000 in grants from the Washington foundation is becoming available to support new and existing Graduation Matters initiatives across the state.

On Feb. 1 local eighth graders will gather at the Flathead County Fairgrounds to make a graduation pledge as part of Graduation Matters.

To read the 2012 Graduation and Dropout Report, visit opi.mt.gov.