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School officials aim for all to graduate

Most schools in area meet or beat state numbers, but graduating 100 percent is the ultimate goal.

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By Linda Ebbing, Staff Writer Updated 1:20 AM Sunday, April 26, 2009

HAMILTON — Most area schools have met the mark set by the state for high school graduation, but district officials say their goal is for 100 percent of their students to graduate.

To earn an indicator on the state report card, 90 percent or more students must earn their diploma.

Although making steady improvement, Hamilton High School’s graduation rate was 87.6 percent for 2008, according to the Ohio Department of Education, up from the 2007 rating of 78 percent.

“We will continue to improve our school graduation rate — it’s a high priority for the district,” said Principal Dennis Malone.

The district is focusing on keeping students in school so that they graduate by offering a number of options such as online classes for students who need to earn credits and intervention classes for students who are having trouble.

“We are looking at each individual,” Malone said. “Students without high school diplomas are going to limit themselves financially for life. The ultimate goal for our district is to have 100 percent graduate.”

Badin High School has held steady for the last several years with a 99.99 percent graduation rate, said Dirk Allen, spokesman.

Last year Badin graduates amassed $8 million in scholarships and financial aid, he said.

“The school, the students and their families take academics very seriously,” Allen said. “Parents are paying for their children to be here, and it’s very important to them that they complete their high school careers.”

In 2007 New Miami High School met and surpassed the required graduation rate for the first time with a 92 percent, according to New Miami High School Principal Tom Alf.

And in 2008 earned a rating of 94 percent, Alf said, adding that “it looks like we are on target to meet that again.”

The graduation rate for Talawanda High School moved up from 95.5 percent in 2007 to 96.6 in 2008, said Kelly Spivey, assistant superintendent.

“The Talawanda School District’s instructional goals are to increase student engagement, monitor student learning and provide equal access to education,” Spivey said. “These goals have driven our instructional operation over the past two years.

“The district is working toward a success rate of 100 percent.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2158 or lebbing@coxohio.com.