The number of dropouts in the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. was cut half from 2011 to the spring semester this year, from 90 general education students to 44. That’s a significant and important shift.
That means 46 more students didn’t give up on the goal of earning a high school diploma and stayed on track to graduate. It means those students have a better chance to attain higher levels of education that are increasingly important for landing well-paying jobs.
A key reason for the decline in dropouts is a program the district uses to help at-risk students stay on track to graduate. It’s called iGrad, which started in 2012 and uses tutors, mentors and other assistance to help students in grades 8-12.
The seven-year dropout rate decline is another example of the success of the program and further validation that continued support for it is wise.
During the 2017-18 school year, 519 students were served, up from 308 during 2011-12, a 69 percent increase.
BCSC Superintendent Jim Roberts said in August 2017 that iGrad had a 95 percent graduation rate for participants, which was better than the district’s overall graduate rate of 88.7 percent for 2017.
The superintendent recently noted that the number of iGrad students attending post-secondary education through the program has increased.
Such improvements are one reason why the Columbus City Council has been willing to provide $750,000 in tax increment financing (TIF) funds to the school corporation for educational programs, including iGrad, the past two years, and is considering approving the same amount again this year.
Data shows that iGrad is having a positive effect on local students and their educational careers, which can provide better opportunities for them later in life. The program is worth continued financial support.
Send comments to editorial@therepublic.com.
