Local high schools beat average state graduation rates

Four of five public Flathead County high schools surpassed the state average in graduate rates for 2014.

Bigfork, Flathead, Glacier and Whitefish high schools edged out the statewide graduation rate of 85.4 percent, according to a graduation and dropout report released last week by the Office of Public Instruction.

The state reported that 85.4 percent is the highest graduation rate in Montana since the Office of Public Instruction began calculating the data in 2000. That translates to 9,273 students successfully completing high school.

Bigfork High School continues to lead the ranks locally, achieving a graduation rate of 95.2 percent (64 students) last year. This is an improvement from the 2013 graduation rate of 93.7 percent.

Bigfork School District Superintendent Matt Jensen attributes the high graduation rates to the school’s small size. Jensen said the small size allows teachers and counselors to know students on a personal level. That personal investment is one reason the high school has a negligible dropout rate, according to Jensen.

“We know students by name. We know if a student is missing from class or how they’re doing academically,” Jensen said.

The school has also provided optional ways for students to graduate such as its decision in 2011 to allow students to earn a high school degree completely online through the Bigfork Digital High School.

Although Whitefish High School achieved a graduation rate above the state’s overall rate — 88.6 percent (101 students) in 2014 — that percentage was a step back from the school’s 2013 graduation rate of 90.7.

The dropout percentage in Whitefish has also increased. Compared to the 2012-13 school year, the number of dropouts has increased from 2.51 percent to 3.22 percent last year.

Despite contending with a mix of learning styles and economic backgrounds, Flathead and Glacier both showed improvement over 2013’s graduation and dropout numbers.

Flathead High School, the largest in the county, showed the biggest improvement when comparing the percentage of graduates in 2013 and 2014.

In 2014, Flathead achieved a graduation rate of 85.5 percent (330 students) compared to 2013’s graduation rate of 81 percent. Flathead’s dropout rate also improved from 4.15 percent in 2012-13 to 3.89 percent during 2013-14.

Glacier High School also showed gains. Glacier achieved a graduation rate of 85.7 percent (288 students) in 2013-14. This is an improvement from the 2013 graduation rate of 83.1 percent. Likewise, Glacier chipped away at dropout rates, decreasing from 3.85 percent in 2012-13 to 2.92 percent during 2013-14.

“The numbers are real encouraging,” said Kalispell Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Dan Zorn.

Zorn said there are many reasons why graduation is increasing and dropout rates are decreasing. He attributed it to the efforts of high school principals and staff to meet students where they are at academically.

“They are working real hard with kids who are credit deficient and providing opportunities for credit retrieval,” Zorn said. “Our summer school program has grown greatly over the years. Our Christmas Catch-up program gives students the opportunity to make up work prior to the end of the semester over Christmas break. The alternative high school is having a tremendous impact providing an individualized approach to learning. It’s about giving kids second chances.”

Columbia Falls High School virtually maintained its graduation rate over the two-year period. In 2014, 80.6 percent (or 133 students) graduated compared to 80.3 percent in 2013. The dropout rate in Columbia Falls decreased slightly from 3.91 in 2012-13 to 3.62 percent last year.

Graduation percentages are a reflection of how many students received diplomas compared to the total number of students that made up the class of 2014 over four years from ninth through 12th grades. The percentages are adjusted to reflect students who transferred in and out of schools. Students who took more than four years to graduate are not counted nor are students who turned 19 before earning a diploma.

Dropout rates of incoming students are tracked for each individual school year rather than over the entire four-year period. Statewide, dropout rates rose very slightly from about 3.6 percent in the 2012-13 school year to 3.7 percent in 2013-14.

The push to improve graduation rates statewide is part of the Office of Public Instruction’s Graduation Matters Montana initiative, now in its fifth year. Currently, 48 communities participate in Graduation Matters, including several local schools.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.