Dive Brief:

• Members of the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools have been testing out new ways to boost graduation rates, including better preparing students for the rigors of college.
• The League produced a round-up of the most innovative ways schools are trying to keep kids engaged until graduation, with many focusing on giving kids a taste of what’s coming after high school — whether in the form of job experience or college-level courses.
• Others involve offering students non-traditional ways to continue their learning; for example, rural Piedmont City School District, in Alabama, offers students laptops and encourages them to make up lost credits online or take courses not offered in the small district.

Dive Insight:

When it was first announced, much was made of the country’s 81% graduation rate. But an NPR investigation cast doubt on the number after reporters uncovered rate inflation and outright cheating at the district and state level. The revelation, along with high college remediation rates and low college graduation, reinforced the nation that districts would do well to focus on keeping students engaged until graduation and ensuring they’re building the necessary skills to succeed in college or in their future careers.

The techniques the Digital Promise schools are testing out focus on the various components of that mission. For example, Michigan's Utica Community Schools offers classes directly aligned with the region’s workforce needs. Blue Valley Public Schools in Kansas has built a center for students to get a taste of what professional life is like and learn from real world professionals. Others work closely with local higher ed institutions to enroll students in course or help them achieve associates degrees.

Whether these programs will actually boost graduation rates over the long term remains to be seen.

Recommended Reading

eSchool News: 4 things innovative districts do to improve graduation rates