SHHS graduation rate increased slightly in past year

Sean C. Morgan

Sweet Home High School’s graduation rate increased slightly in the 2017-18 school year, but its dropout rate fell significantly, according to figures released by the Oregon Department of Education Thursday.

The four-year graduation rate increased from 70.88 percent in 2016-17 to 71.26 percent in 2017-18. The four-year completer rate, which includes alternatives like the GED, fell from 79.12 percent to 75.45 percent.

The five-year graduation rate fell from 75 percent to 71.98 percent, while the five-year completer rate increased from 80.56 percent to 80.77 percent.

While the gains locally are slight, the dropout rate fell from 5.71 percent in 2016-17 to 3.93 percent last school year, less than half a point from the statewide dropout rate, 3.55 percent, which was 3.86 percent the previous year.

“Sweet Home High School has implemented a number of dropout prevention systems this year to increase graduation rates, helping more students succeed in being career and college ready,” said Supt. Tom Yahraes. The district has implemented a freshman focus team, a summer school recovery program and strengthened its CTE programs which show higher cohort graduation rates. It instituted a chronic absenteeism team and a care team, which focus on students struggling in grades 10-12.

“We are hitting full stride with these systems this year, and I am confident we will see graduation rates trend upward next year and the coming years,” Yahraes said.

While graduation rate data involves four-year cohorts which takes time to show upward trends, dropout rates are measured annually, Yahraes said.

“Sweet Home High School dropout rate significantly improved from the previous year. Possibly, this is an indication of the early success of our new dropout prevention systems. The systems we put in place this year have made us as a team much more informed and deliberate in identifying why students are struggling and understanding each of their stories.”

Another example of early success in the district’s new systems is the freshman on-track statistic, Yahraes said. “We have more freshman attending and passing classes than previous years. In looking at our K-8 grade levels, the state report card gave Sweet Home high scores regarding students closing the achievement gap.

“We have great progress in the works, which will translate into high graduation rates in the years to come. Sweet Home educators do an amazing job in attempting to level the playing field by serving all students. We will not be satisfied until we help every student fulfill their potential and find a pathway to graduate with the skills necessary to succeed in life.”

Statewide, the four-year graduation rate increased two points to 78.7 percent. It is the fifth year of increasing graduation rates, and it included students in all groups.

“It’s important to remember that we are talking about students, not statistics,” Oregon Department of Education Director Colt Gill said. “In this case, a two-point increase in graduation means an additional 950 students getting their diplomas within four years of starting high school. Under the leadership of Governor Kate Brown, we have enacted equity-focused supports that have helped students of color, students navigating poverty, and tribal students graduate at a higher rate than before.”

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