Looking to boost its graduation rate, Cobleskill-Richmondville took a long step in that direction last week.
Figures from the state Education Department show C-R's graduation rose from 73 percent in 2015 to 80 percent a year later.
"We have a long-term goal of 90 percent by 2019," said Superintendent Carl Mummenthey, referencing the district's Strategic Plan drawn up last year.
"This is a down payment on that, but we still have a lot of work to do."
Chief among factors helping more students graduate is C-R's STRIVE program, started last year. STRIVE gives at-risk students "an intense level of support," Mr. Mummenthey said. (See related story.)
Also essential has been a district-wide strategy to focus on assisting struggling students, and not just in their senior year.
"We're concerned about kids who might drop out as early as 10th grade," Mr. Mummenthey said.
Several of the tactics C-R is using include:
•Freshmen In Transition. Towards the end of eighth-grade, ninth-grade teachers meet with their eighth-grade counterparts to identify incoming freshmen who have trouble adjusting. If students begin falling behind early in accumulating class credits, they may never catch up.
Therefore, students in FIT get special attention.
Without FIT, "students could look at their credits when they're 16 or 17 and say, 'I'm never gonna graduate,' " Mr. Mummenthey said.
•Targeting attendance. The high school now posts attendance records for each class, encouraging competition. "Attendance is linked to school success. It's a novel idea," Mr. Mummenthey understated, laughing.
•Rewards. C-R holds ice cream socials for students who pass all their courses in a semester, recognizing them for their success.
•Engagement. C-R is trying to get more students involved in sports and clubs. "Kids are much less likely to skip school if they're involved," Mr. Mummenthey said.
He credited High School Principal Mel Ausfeld, Assistant Principal Jeremiah Haslun, and STRIVE coordinator Danielle Hay with the success.
Mr. Mummenthey cautioned, however, that there could be dips in graduate rates before hitting the 90th percentile. But when C-R hits 90, "why not 100?" Mr. Mummenthey asked.
The state has many ways to measure schools' performance--numerous student tests and teacher evaluations--but graduation rate is high on Mr. Mummenthey's list.
"It's most important to me," he said. "Parents give us their kids for 13 years, we have to do the best we can."