School report cards: Graduation rates lower, though still above state average; more students eligible for free and reduced lunches

Graduation rates at some area schools took a hit in 2009, but most districts stayed above state averages.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education recently released district report cards, data from the 2008-2009 school year. The information includes statistics about Missouri Assessment Program performance, salaries and district graduates.

An analysis of 13 area school districts showed lower graduation rates and higher rates of students eligible for free and reduced-price lunches.

While still above the state average, the graduation rate in the Jackson School District fell to its lowest point in at least five years. The rate went from 93.3 percent in 2008 to 88.5 percent the next year. The graduation rate statewide was 85 percent in 2009.

"It's something that I think sends up a red flag," said high school principal Vince Powell.

One of the factors contributing to the lower number was an increasing number of students staying with the district for a short period of time. He said mobility has been an increasing trend for about five years.

"We see more kids that are mobile and moving in and out of schools," he said.

He said the district will have to look into interventions for at-risk students throughout different grade levels.

Assistant superintendent Dr. Rita Fisher said the district will analyze the data to look at the circumstances surrounding the dropouts.

"I want to know who those kids were," she said.

Aside from the graduation rate, Fisher said the district's statistics are consistent or better than last year.

"Overall, it looks like a report card from a district that is succeeding," she said.

Out of 13 area districts, Oran, Delta and Leopold reported 100 percent graduation rates. Eight other districts also reported numbers that were higher than the state average.

In Cape Girardeau, the graduation rate increased from 72 to 72.3 percent. Increasing the rate, which fell by 8.6 percentage points since 2006, has been a focus for the district.

"I think it's a process we're going through," said superintendent Dr. Jim Welker. Changes that will target the rate will be phased in, he said.

Like Jackson, district officials in Cape Girardeau also cited more mobile students as one of the challenges to improving the number. If a student leaves the district to attend another school but never enrolls, the statistics count toward the original school.

For nearly a year, the Cape Girardeau School District has been working with United Way of Southeast Missouri's Education Solutions Team, a group of community, religious and school officials. The group has been identifying strategies to remedy the graduation rate; its report is due in March.

"I think we're accepting responsibility as a district," assistant superintendent Pat Fanger said. She said the issue has become a focus for all schools within the district, not just the high school.

School officials said they hope the district's preschool program, started during the 2007-2008 school year, will help with early intervention, one of the strategies outlined by the solutions team. Enrollment in the program doubled the next year when the program was expanded. It is offered at Blanchard, Jefferson and Alma Schrader elementary schools.

"It kind of nurtures a love of learning," said Deena Ring, the district's director of special services. The program has a waiting list with more than 40 families, she said.

In Scott City, the graduation rate dropped from 94 percent to 89.3 percent. Since 2005, the district's rate has been as high as 95.7 percent and as low as 87.8 percent. Superintendent Diann Bradshaw-Ulmer said she was happy the rate is still above the state average.

"It's very important to us, but you're going to have some fluctuation," she said, noting smaller districts see more fluctuation.

In Scott City, the number of students eligible for free and reduced lunches increased by 7.1 percentage points to 51.4 percent in 2009. Bradshaw-Ulmer said the district made more of an effort to encourage parents to fill out the eligibility forms.

"We felt like there were several kids' families not taking advantage of that program," she said.

Ten districts were above the state average of 43.7 percent. Zalma, Woodland and Cape Girardeau reported the highest numbers with 62.5, 58.6 and 53.7 percent, respectively.

In Jackson, the rate increased from 29.3 percent to 32.1 percent. In Cape Girardeau the rate went from 53.9 percent to 53.7 percent.

Bradshaw-Ulmer said Scott City is also trying to increase its attendance rate. With an attendance rate of 93.3 percent, Scott City is below the state average of 95.1.

Kelly, Perry County, Meadow Heights and Woodland school districts were also below the state average with rates of 93.8, 94.4, 94.5 and 95, respectively.

For the current school year, Scott City hired an employee to monitor attendance for the elementary, middle and high schools. Bradshaw-Ulmer said she expects to see the rate increase next year.

"We're making daily phone calls home to check on kids," she said.

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Click on the links below to see your school's report card:

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Altenburg

Bell City

Cape Girardeau

Chaffee

Delta

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Kelso

Kelly

Leopold

Meadow Heights

Nell Holcomb

Oak Ridge

Oran

Perry County

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Woodland

Zalma