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Graduation Rate Improves for Second Year in a Row
WCSD Launches 3rd Annual Door to Door for Student Achievement
Reno, NV (Sept. 14, 2011) - After a dramatic increase in 2010, the Washoe County School District's efforts have paid off again with significant improvement for the second year in a row with the Class of 2011 driving the District's graduation rate to 70 percent, seven percentage points higher than the prior year. WCSD released the 2010-2011 graduation data at a news conference on Wednesday and detailed its upcoming campaign to further improve the graduation rate.
With the second consecutive year of improvement, the District's graduation rate climbed 14 percentage points in the two-year period from 56 percent to 70 percent. This comes after a four-year period (2006-2009) when the graduation rate remained stagnant between 55 and 57 percent.
"We are remarkably proud of the improvements we are seeing on this critical benchmark of success," Superintendent Heath Morrison said. "The reversal from no growth to significant increases for two consecutive years epitomizes our commitment to graduating 'every child, by name and face, to graduation.' The dedication of our teachers, principals and staff to support each and every child is commendable and it is the reason for this accomplishment."
Morrison provided additional details about the graduation data at the news conference. The data represents the four-year cohort rate, which calculates the graduation rate based on following students who started ninth grade in 2008 and who graduated four years later in 2011.
In addition to the overall increase for WCSD, graduation rates for student sub-groups increased in nearly all instances and showed evidence of narrowing the achievement gap. For example, the graduation rate increased 10 percentage points among Hispanic students, which exceeds the District's one-year growth in 2011.
Every comprehensive high school within the District showed improvement as well. Sparks High School showed the largest graduation rate increase, climbing from 53 percent to 68 percent.
Sparks High School Principal Wanda Shakeenab explained the steps her school took to achieve the 15 percentage point increase. She and her staff regularly chatted about data to monitor the progress of every student and provided extra support immediately. They offered students additional opportunities to retain credits before and after school and on Saturdays. Sparks High School also worked closely with families by contacting parents and informing them of data and their student's progress.
"The District set a goal for us to increase our graduation rate by 4 percent in 2011. When I went back to my school to discuss this with my staff, I challenged them to surpass all limitations and District expectations. The hard work of everyone at Sparks High School - teachers, administrators, support staff, parents and the entire Railroader community - made this accomplishment possible. Everyone supported and believed in each other and we will continue to do so to prepare more of our students for their future," Shakeenab said.
Morrison said the reforms and graduation initiatives launched at the high schools are proving to be effective. "By paying greater attention to ninth grade credit attainment, we are ensuring our students are on track to graduation from their very first day of high school," he said. "However, improving our graduation rate is simply not enough. We also must make sure our students graduate ready for the rigorous demands of college and the diverse nature of today's highly-skilled workforce. I am proud to announce that we are making significant progress in this area as well."
College- and Career-Readiness
During the news conference, the District released information about enrolling students in more rigorous classes. Data shows that participation in Advanced Placement (AP) courses in high school and algebra in the eighth grade lead to higher academic success for students in college.
In 2011, 32 percent of students took at least one AP class by the end of grade 11, which meets the District's target set in its strategic plan, Envision WCSD 2015 - Investing In Our Future. Current AP enrollment suggests that the District will exceed its performance target demonstrably in 2012. Middle school algebra results also improved with the District surpassing the 2011 and 2012 performance targets for the percentage of students completing algebra by the eighth grade and current enrollment indicates future progress.
Chief School Accountability Officer Paul LaMarca said the District is expecting to make even greater strides in college-readiness with the Class of 2012. "Nearly one-third of our seniors this year already have AP experience, which provides them with greater knowledge and skills to excel in higher education, something they will need after they walk the graduation stage in the spring. As we look at our Pathway on important indicators like Advanced Placement and eighth grade algebra, we are increasing the rigor at key transition points, providing a continuous and growing stream of college-ready graduates. Seeing the faces of these young adults as they walk the stage and receive their hard-earned diplomas is such a satisfying experience and a reminder of the critical importance of our work as educators. It also reminds us of the work still to be done and our obligation to so many other students who have not yet walked the stage."
Door to Door for Student Achievement
Morrison also provided details at the news conference about the 2011 Door to Door for Student Achievement campaign, which kicks off on Saturday, Sept. 17. Morrison, members of the WCSD Board of Trustees, principals, elected officials, and school and community leaders will visit the homes of students who are not enrolled in school or who have chronic attendance issues and are at risk of dropping out. As they sit down with students and their families, the teams will discuss a personalized plan to keep the student in school and engaged in the classroom through different programs and initiatives. During the visit, the student can immediately re-enroll in school and begin to get back on track toward graduation.
"It is great to see the increases in the graduation rate so far, however, we cannot settle until every child in Washoe County graduates from high school," Board of Trustees Vice President Ken Grein said. "Door to Door for Student Achievement allows us to reach out to each child individually and show them we care and that their education is important."
This will be the third annual Door to Door for Student Achievement campaign, which won an honorable mention in the American School Board Journal's 2011 Magna Awards program. During the event last year, more than 200 students were contacted and 26 percent of them returned to school, which is a higher percentage than the inaugural year of the campaign.
The Door to Door for Student Achievement campaign kicks off at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17.
About Washoe County School District: The Washoe County School District includes the Reno/Sparks metropolitan area, Incline Village, Gerlach, Empire and Wadsworth, Nevada. The District provides each of its 63,000 students with a superior education in a safe and challenging environment and is committed to graduate every child career and college ready. For more information visit: www.washoecountyschools.org. Follow us on Twitter at WCSDTweet.
Washoe County School District
425 East Ninth Street
Reno, NV 89512
