The graduation rate for the Poplar Bluff R-I High School was slightly higher in 2020 than the previous year, despite the challenges faced.
The 2019-20 school year was, in fact, the highest graduation rate in the school’s history after nine years of continual improvement, said high school Principal Michael Owen.
For the 2019-20 school year, the school’s graduation rate was 94.3% and for the 2018-19 year, it was 94.2%, according to school board documents.
This rate is based on the number of students who graduate in four years. It does not include students who leave the district to go to another school before they’re scheduled to graduate.
Owen said every action planned to be taken during the school year was successfully implemented.
This includes the development of the alternative school, now housed on the Mark Twain campus. Students who are struggling with the traditional school environment, including but not limited to disciplinary issues, can go to the alternative school for short-term or long-term instruction.
Owen said one of the goals going forward to hopefully improve the graduation rate to 95% is a continued relationship with the alternative school.
Another strategy implemented which Owen wants to continue is offering two summer school sessions for the students to make up credit hours.
That move was made after the schools closed early in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For high school students, the first summer school was online in June with an in-person session available in July.
Owen said that was effective in helping students get caught up with where they needed to be. He plans to explore offering two sessions going forward, with one or both offered virtually.
The challenges right now, he explained, include the students struggling with virtual instruction. Owen advised those who are struggling in the virtual environment should return to in-person instruction.
He said he also plans to examine some of the other measures taken during the break last spring and how they could be implemented going forward.
Owen also hopes to continue working with the alternative school and to strengthen communication between the two schools, as well as continuing the advisory class program currently in place.