The number of high school dropouts in Columbus has been cut in half, from 90 in 2011 to 44 in 2018.
That seven-year trend statistic demonstrates the effectiveness of the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. iGrad program, launched in 2012 to help at-risk students in grades 8 to 12 meet graduation requirements and move onto post-secondary education or into the workforce, Superintendent Jim Roberts said.
The school leader appeared Monday before the Columbus Redevelopment Commission, which considered the district’s request to continue receiving $750,000 in tax increment financing funds from the city to support school programs. The district has received $750,000 in TIF funds for the past two years from the city under an agreement, which requires BCSC to report its progress on an annual basis.
Roberts requested $253,825 for the iGrad program — the same amount it received last year. In addition, Roberts said the district has seen an increase in the number of iGrad students attending post-secondary education through the program, which provides tutors, mentors and other assistance.
For more on this story, see Saturday’s Republic.
