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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 4, 2015)
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • February 4, 2015 19A Polk County Schools/Education Grad rates reveal mixed results By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer POLK COUNTY — Gradu- ation rates in Polk County schools, and statewide, are up for the most part for 2013-14, but a change in how the state calculates the rates is partially responsible for the uptick. Dallas’ graduation rate is up to 66 percent, from 52 percent last year, but that rate, six points lower than the state average, is techni- cally down from 2012-13. Graduation rates are based on students who enrolled in high school in 2010-11. This year, the Oregon De- partment of Education, which released the rates Thursday, included students who have fulfilled gradua- tion requirements but de- ferred receiving diplomas to earn college credit in fifth- year programs, such as Dal- las’ Extended Campus. Also included in the report are students who earned modi- fied diplomas. In the past, Dallas calcu- lated its own rate to include Extended Campus enrollees in addition to the state’s be- cause all participants in the program must qualify for graduation. In 2012-13, that rate was nearly 76 percent, meaning a decline of 10 per- cent this year. Interim Superintendent Dennis Engle said the dis- trict had an unusually high amount of “noncompleters” — those who did not earn a diploma or GED on time. Dallas had 78 noncom- pleters, according to the re- port, 38 of which are en- rolled this year. Dallas High School Prin- cipal Steve Spencer said the school has adjusted its math classes to help students who are at risk of being short of credits for graduation. He said the school has had suc- cess helping seniors demon- strate “essential skills,” also required for graduation, and is making adjustments to Four-year Graduation Rate Four-year Completion Rate Five-year Graduation Rate Five-year Completion Rate Falls City is reporting one more student completing graduation requirements in 2013-14 than the state, bringing its four-year graduation rate to 60 percent and completer rate to 70 percent. KATHY HUGGINS/ Itemizer-Observer Above shows the percentages of student in Polk County school districts who received a diploma or GED in four years and those who completed requirements in five years. JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer file Central, Dallas and Falls City’s grad rates increased. Perrydale’s fell slightly. help those who may be credit-deficient. “ We’ve said that we haven’t had a senior not graduate because of essen- tial skills, which is true, but Members of DHS’s Class of 2014 await their diplomas. Changes in the way the state calculates rates improved Dal- las’ percentage, but technically the graduation rate is down. some haven’t met gradua- tion requirements because of credits,” Spencer said. Dallas’ five-year gradua- tion rate, for students who enrolled in 2009-10, at 80 percent, is higher than the state average. Falls City School District’s graduation rate made a huge jump to 60 percent in 2013-14 from 20 percent the year before. Superintendent Jack Thompson said the state’s report, which had the district at 50, was one stu- dent off. He said graduation rates at FCHS are taken with a grain of salt, considering classes are so small. One or two students falling short can cause big swings, he said. That being said, Thompson is pleased with the improvement. “We have a lot of kids having to fulfill essential skills and we had staff spending extra time,” he said. “Kudos goes to the staff for putting in the extra effort — and it shows.” Falls City’s five-year grad- uation rate is 50 percent. Central School District also saw a significant in- crease, with its rate at 73 percent, up 7 percent from the year before. Central Superintendent Buzz Brazeau credits the im- provement to investments the district has been able to make as budget cuts eased, such as adding more classi- fied staff and teacher training. “A portion of it comes from focusing hard on pro- fessional development, helping teachers become better at their craft,” he said. While Brazeau is proud of the growth, he said the dis- trict can’t forget about the 27 percent of students who didn’t make it to graduation. “We have to keep fo- cused,” he said. Central’s five-year gradu- ation rate is 71 percent. Perrydale’s graduation rate slipped to 87 percent, from 90 in 2012-13, but is still well above the state av- erage. Perrydale Superinten- dent Eric Milburn said he isn’t concerned. “We are right where we need to be as far as gradua- tion rates and getting stu- dents college and career ready,” he said. Perrydale’s five-year rate is 93 percent. Statewide, the four-year rate is 72 percent, up from 68.7 in 2012-13. The state five-year rate is 76 percent. See the Show What: “Oklahoma!” by Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein, Central High School drama pro- duction. When: Thursday through Saturday, 6:30 p.m.; Feb. 11-13, 6:30 p.m.; Feb. 14, a box social din- ner will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Valentine’s Day, with the play to follow at 6:30 p.m. Where: Central High School, 1530 Monmouth St., Independence. Admission: $8 general admission; $5 students; $20 per person for the box social dinner, which in- cludes dinner, dessert and the show. Of note: Concessions will be western themed, and include fresh baked cookies. For more information: 503-838-0480; www.chsper- formingarts.org. Oklahoma: Play opens Thursday at Central Continued from Page 20A At the social, the women are auctioned off via a picnic basket. Boyack said it is im- portant that Curly wins her character’s basket and has to work hard to outbid Jud, who is jealous. When Boyack and Sykes fi- nally end up together, one might think they had an off- stage romance, but Boyack said it isn’t so. “It’s acting,” she said casu- ally. “Even though we don’t have a real romance, we find that thing in real life and use it.” In an intense scene be- tween she and Eschette’s character, Boyack said it was amazing to finally connect to her character’s sense of anger and sadness. “I just broke through,” she said.