News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
A couple of years ago the district had nearly twice as many dropouts as it did during the 1995-96 school year -- the rate dropped from 8.4 percent to 4.6 percent.
In a small school, however, this is not necessarily an indication that programs are working. Three or four dropouts can cause a big swing in the percentage rate and Superintendent Steve Swisher said the district does not have enough long-term tracking to identify a trend.
Still, for last year at any rate, Sisters has a better record of retaining students than the state in general. Statewide, in the 1995-96 school year, 7.4 percent of students enrolled in grades 9 to 12 quit school.
According to Swisher, many of the reasons a student decides to leave school before graduating can be identified, but "there are as many stories as there are students."
Swisher said the dropout rate in small schools tends to be lower simply because kids don't get lost in the shuffle. Classroom sizes are the same as those of larger schools, he said, but the overall school community is small, everyone knows everyone and is easier for individuals to find their niche.
Dropouts are often youngsters who are not achieving satisfactory grades -- and not necessarily because studies are beyond their ability to comprehend. Swisher said problems often begin at home with poor or stressful family situations. A youngsters can also be experiencing social problems, which may or may not stem from a poor situation at home. And drugs and alcohol play a role.
A recent report from the Oregon Department of Education indicated students who had dropped out cited irrelevant course work as their number one reason for dropping out.
Sisters' internship program helps youngsters to see the relevance of their school course work by placing them in the workplace as interns. The intern program has placed more than 100 students in part-time jobs in the community. Many of the students, potential dropouts, have shown more interest in school work because they developed an understanding of the relevance of education in the work place.
Flex School is another program created for students who teachers, counselors or parents identified as potential dropouts. Here 15 to 20 high school students from various grades go to class together in a "one-room school" environment set up in the school headquarters building. There is a teacher and an aide there who give each student special attention to help them get back on track with their studies.
Dropping out doesn't always mean the end of a child's education.
Swisher said the district conducted a survey of youngsters who left school before graduating and found that at least half had continued their education in some fashion.
They enrolled at other schools, entered General Education Development (GED) programs, signed up for classes at a community college or were receiving special education through their jobs. Swisher said some of the students going back to high school or taking some kind of course work may be in their mid-20s or older, but at some point in time they realize that it is important to get their education.
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