Connecting may cut dropout rate

Roughly 63 percent of students in the Edmonds School District graduated in four years in 2003-04 and 2004-05, according to data recently released by the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The other 39 percent who don’t graduate in four years include dropouts and those who take more than four years to graduate. Running Start students who enter college while still attending high school are also included in the figure. District leaders hope changes made this past year will boost graduation rates this year.

“We are just getting those long-term strategies into place,” said Debbie Jakala, Edmonds School District spokeswoman. “We are very optimistic we will see a change in next year’s report.”

This past spring, the district gave all five high schools, four middle schools and the middle school programs at K-8 schools dropout “tool kits.” The kits offer strategies to keep students engaged and enrolled. They’re based on two years of research by a district task force.

For example, kits offer resources and materials to give students a sense of belonging and make instruction more engaging. This fall, schools are using a “Silent Mentor” program to make students feel more connected.

In the program, student names are listed for view. Teachers and other staff place dots next to the names of students that they don’t know well. The students with the highest number of dots receive extra, but subtle, attention.

Statewide, about 74 percent of high school seniors graduated in four years, compared with 70 percent the year before. The graduation rate rose to 79 percent when students who took extra time are factored in.

In Snohomish County, on-time graduation rates ranged from 62.5 percent in Sultan to 93.8 percent in Darrington.

Schools are under increasing pressure to raise their graduation rates. The federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requires schools to graduate 85 percent of their students by 2014.

Reporter Eric Stevick writes for the Herald in Everet.