Bend-La Pine Graduation Rate Highest in History | The Source Weekly - Bend, Oregon

Bend-La Pine Graduation Rate Highest in History

Rate increased by more than 10 percent in six years

The class of 2017 for the Bend-La Pine Schools just made history.

Last year, the student graduation rate for Bend-La Pine Schools marked an all-time high for the percentage of students graduating on time, says a report released today by the Oregon Department of Education. The combined rate for district students earning a diploma on time improved by more than 10 percentage points in the last six years alone—up from 68.2 percent in 2011 to 78.7 percent for the 2016-2017 school year.

“Our staff’s relentless efforts to know each individual by their name, strength and need allows our teaching and learning teams to personalize student engagement in ways that ensure students are involved in their education and on track for graduation,” said BLPS Deputy Superintendent Jay Mathisen. “We are fortunate to have many of Oregon’s best educators and support staff on our team, making these successes a reality for students.”

The Bend-La Pine Schools student graduation rate continues to outpace the state graduation average. Across the state, Oregon students' on-time graduation rate was 76.7 percent.

The graduation rate tracks students beginning in ninth grade and measures how many of those students graduate within four years. The rate is adjusted for students moving in or out of the district.

Jefferson County School District 509J graduation rates leap forward.

Madras High School shows significant growth in all student subgroups

High school graduation rates released by the Oregon Department of Education this week show that Jefferson County School District 509J is making significant improvements. While the district’s graduation performance has been improving over the past two years, 2017 showed a 12 percentage point increase over 2016, moving from 60 to 72 percent for students graduating in four years. Madras High School increased to 78 percent, not including graduation rates for the new Bridges High School which opened in September of 2016.
“We are extremely proud to see the results of the hard work and focus from Madras High School staff and students,” said JCSD 509J Superintendent Ken Parshall. “This didn’t happen overnight. Our team has been working to engage students at a deeper level and provide them with the support they need to be successful in school, graduate and explore college and careers.”
According to Madras High School co-principals Mark Neffendorf and HD Weddel, building relationships between students and staff and setting high expectations at the high school has been critical to the district’s success.
“From the moment our freshmen walk through the door, our team makes it a priority to get to know them. We want them to know we are here for them and that we believe in them. And that support continues the entire time they are here with us,” said Weddel. “We are also holding students accountable and setting high expectations for academics and behavior and they are rising to the occasion,” added Neffendorf. “We track every single student on an on-going basis to make sure he or she is on track and not falling behind. If we find students are struggling in any way, we work with them individually to make sure they have the support they need to be successful.”
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