November 22, 2024 3:30 a.m.
Information released Thursday from the Oregon Department of Education highlights Roseburg Public Schools’ continued progress in attendance and steady performance in key indicators of student success.
Superintendent Jared Cordon said the state’s 2023-24 At-A-Glance School and District Profiles provide data on attendance and ninth grade on-track rates, as well as state assessment results released earlier this fall. Cordon said in addition, the profiles include previously released graduation and five-year completion rates from Spring 2023.
The release said student attendance continues to improve across the district, with regular attendance rising to 65 percent in 2023-24, a 5 percentage-point increase from the previous year’s 60 percent. Efforts to address attendance barriers occur district-wide and can include home check-ins, incentive programs, and even partnering with employers to ensure working students have the flexibility needed to attend regularly.
Another key measure in ODE’s report is 9th-Graders on Track. Students earning at least one-quarter of graduation credits in the ninth-grade year are more likely to graduate on time, leading to increased graduations rates. At Roseburg High School, 84 percent of ninth graders were on track in 2023-24, a slight decrease from the previous year’s 85 percent.
The release said staff at RHS continue to strengthen academic supports for ninth and 10th graders to bring the on-track rate back to record highs seen in 2021. Resources include graduation coaches, a 9th Grade Success Team, counselor check-ins and more.
Cordon said the district is also working to make sure high school classes are meaningfully connected to student’s futures by strengthening partnerships with Umpqua Community College and local employers. RHS continues to add career pathways that allow students to work directly toward earning a degree or professional certificate while still in high school.
Cordon said, “If students can see a clear path from high school to college and career, they are more likely to feel invested in their education”. Cordon said, “We are building a system that not only benefits students but also supports local businesses seeking talented employees and strengthens our community’s economy”.