We did it again! While many school districts are feeling the lasting impact of the pandemic on their academic systems, 27J defied this downward trend and turned in a 5-peat of annual increased graduation rates during and after the pandemic.
This year, 27J Schools turned in a rate of 90.9 percent, matching Cherry Creek Schools for the third-highest rate among the largest districts in the Denver metro area and besting the state average of 82.3 percent.
What is the key to our success?
“[Our success is] all about 27J’s mission of empowering every student today to take control of their future tomorrow… The key is in the word ‘every’”.
– Will Pierce, Deputy Superintendent of 27J Schools
Using graduation rates as its measuring stick, 27J has made critical changes in supporting every student to finish high school strong and graduate on time. For example, it took the profile of students in advanced courses and matched it with students of color that weren’t enrolled. Those students were encouraged to take the higher level courses, resulting in an increase in the diversity and number of students taking advanced courses and engaging in the highest levels of learning.
Instead of waiting until a senior is part-way through their final year of high school to check if they’re on track with enough credits to graduate, 27J counselors jump in any time a student begins to slip behind. Counselors intervene immediately to build a customized plan for students to recover missed credits that could jeopardize meeting graduation requirements.
“We don’t wait for a student to take credit recovery courses during the summer, or the spring before graduation,” Pierce said. “We intervene to rectify the problem as soon as we see it.”
27J high school counselors have a very different role today as compared to five years ago. Today, they follow students’ academic progress throughout the year. And they don’t just follow seniors; they flag any student at any level to get them back on track immediately.
Check out 27J’s highlights among the Denver metro school districts:
- 27J has the highest Hispanic graduation rate.
- 27J has the highest Students of Color graduation rate.
- 27J has the highest English Language Learners graduation rate.
- 27J has the highest homeless students’ graduation rate.
- 27J has the highest foster child graduation rate.
- 27J has the 2nd highest Title I students’ graduation rate
- 27J has the 3rd highest IEP students’ graduation rate.
- 27J has the 3rd highest gifted and talented students’ graduation rate.
Among Adams County peer districts, 27J has the highest graduation rate – for the fifth year in a row.