July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Jay grad rate makes big jump
Schools
The graduation rate at Jay County High School improved dramatically last year, jumping to 88 percent for the class of 2009, up from 74.7 in 2008.
"We feel pretty good about it," Jay Schools superintendent Tim Long said this morning as the figures were released by the Indiana Department of Education. "But we can always improve."
"It's a combination of things," JCHS principal Phil Ford said. "Obviously I'm pleased."
The state now calculates the graduation rate as the percentage of students who were freshmen together who graduate within four years. In Jay County's case, 256 students graduated in 2009 of 291 who were freshmen together.
"It used to be calculated differently," said Long. "The last three years have been under the new formula."
Long cited the high school's credit recovery program and the JCHS annex at John Jay Center for Learning as factors.
"We have really over the past few years put a high concentration on not losing as many kids as we have in the past," Long said. "We knew we had to change."
The credit recovery program was established two years ago and allows students to regain or recover credits they may have lost or need to complete work for their diploma. Students work at their own pace in a computer lab via an Internet portal before school or in the evenings.
"A lot of students drop out because they get so far behind they lose hope they could ever graduate," said Long.
"Credit recovery has helped bring back students."
Fifty-six students are now enrolled at the JCHS annex at John Jay, using a similar computer lab to complete course work. About 13 students have graduated from JCHS in the past year using the annex at John Jay.
"It's been a combination of things," said Ford. "I'm not sure there's a silver bullet."
Long cited teacher effort and the guidance counseling system as among the factors for the improvement.
"We're doing a much better job of tracking our at-risk students at Jay County High School," he said.
Other area high schools and their graduation rates reported today: South Adams 83.7 percent, Bellmont 91.5 percent, Adams Central 94.2 percent, Blackford 87 percent, Muncie Central 90 percent, Delta 90.8 percent, Muncie Southside 81.4 percent, Winchester 87 percent, Union City 88.1 percent, and Monroe Central 88.6 percent.
On a statewide basis, the graduation rate was 81.5 percent.
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"We feel pretty good about it," Jay Schools superintendent Tim Long said this morning as the figures were released by the Indiana Department of Education. "But we can always improve."
"It's a combination of things," JCHS principal Phil Ford said. "Obviously I'm pleased."
The state now calculates the graduation rate as the percentage of students who were freshmen together who graduate within four years. In Jay County's case, 256 students graduated in 2009 of 291 who were freshmen together.
"It used to be calculated differently," said Long. "The last three years have been under the new formula."
Long cited the high school's credit recovery program and the JCHS annex at John Jay Center for Learning as factors.
"We have really over the past few years put a high concentration on not losing as many kids as we have in the past," Long said. "We knew we had to change."
The credit recovery program was established two years ago and allows students to regain or recover credits they may have lost or need to complete work for their diploma. Students work at their own pace in a computer lab via an Internet portal before school or in the evenings.
"A lot of students drop out because they get so far behind they lose hope they could ever graduate," said Long.
"Credit recovery has helped bring back students."
Fifty-six students are now enrolled at the JCHS annex at John Jay, using a similar computer lab to complete course work. About 13 students have graduated from JCHS in the past year using the annex at John Jay.
"It's been a combination of things," said Ford. "I'm not sure there's a silver bullet."
Long cited teacher effort and the guidance counseling system as among the factors for the improvement.
"We're doing a much better job of tracking our at-risk students at Jay County High School," he said.
Other area high schools and their graduation rates reported today: South Adams 83.7 percent, Bellmont 91.5 percent, Adams Central 94.2 percent, Blackford 87 percent, Muncie Central 90 percent, Delta 90.8 percent, Muncie Southside 81.4 percent, Winchester 87 percent, Union City 88.1 percent, and Monroe Central 88.6 percent.
On a statewide basis, the graduation rate was 81.5 percent.
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