SCHOOLS: Area districts provide help to keep kids in school

By Joe Olenick<br><a href="mailto:joe.olenick@lockportjournal.com">E-mail Joe</a>

When it comes to keeping kids on track for that diploma, local high schools keep an eye out for the students who may need some help. And there are a variety of ways schools provide that help as soon as possible.

School districts in Eastern Niagara County have graduation rates well above the national average of 70 percent, according to the New York State Education Department. But that doesn’t mean schools aren’t still working to get as many students as possible to graduate on time.

Frank Movalli, principal at Lockport High School, said the dropout fight starts early. If students fail enough classes in ninth grade, not having enough credits to be considered a sophomore, they are more likely to drop out.

To combat that, Lockport has instituted small learning communities, which are small groups of students who attend the same classes together. The school also watches for students who may fall behind early, then help them by matching them up with a student mentor.

“We identify them early and then match them up with an upper classman,” Movalli said. “Usually our mentors have about six to eight kids they meet with about once a month. It helps keep the students in connection with the school, giving them a better chance to succeed.”

Movalli added that a student’s relationship with their teachers is a major factor in how the student will perform in school. And that’s exactly what Wilson High School believes, Principal Daniel Johnson said.

“We try to make it clear that it’s important they’re here and they matter to us,” he said. “I know every kid by name here. We try to make it personal — with a school our size, we can do that. And the staff does a wonderful job.”

Johnson said Wilson teachers often attend sporting or school events to support their students. Teachers often talk with their students about schoolwork, but also about other things going on in their lives.

And if a student does fall behind, Wilson offers a summer program for academic help at no cost to the student.

“It helps them get ready for September,” Johnson said.

Newfane Principal Steven Burley said the faculty and administration review curriculum, constantly looking for ways to improve. It's important for high schools to make their students able to compete with everybody else, he said.

To encourage student attendance, Newfane has a course requirement that says kids must have at least 85 percent attendance in order to pass a course. For students who are close to that figure, notification is sent home, Burley said.

“This helps keep students involved,” he said.

Newfane also has a credit recovery program that allows student to go back to a class they’ve failed and receive credit. It can be done by looking at the class curriculum and seeing what topics the student struggled with. The student receives help on those topics and then is retested.

Extra help is available for students struggling in current classes, as well. Newfane has three tutors, in addition to its regular faculty. Burley said it’s important to help students as soon as possible.

“Once they lose hope, that’s when they drop out,” he said.

Another problem is students who think school doesn’t relate to real life. Schools such as Newfane often promote the vocational programs offered at the Board of Cooperative Educational Services, which offers students training in a variety of professions. About 35 of Newfane’s 150 seniors this year are taking BOCES classes, Burley said.

“If they see a value of what they’re doing in school, it becomes more important to them,” he said. “BOCES makes education realistic to them.”

Making improvements in how districts can reach those students who are teetering toward dropping out is something on the minds of school officials, said Wilson Superintendent Michael Wendt. That includes finding the help for students when needed, but also using regular instructional time in the best possible way.

“There are certain conventions that don’t change,” Wendt said. “And if kids want to be there and work, good results will happen.”

While progress has been made, there could be trouble, given the current economic crisis in New York state. School districts statewide are grappling with a proposed $1.1 billion cut in state school aid, which could lead to reductions in programs and personnel. And that could affect how, or if, a school reaches those students who are on the edge.

“We’re going to lose some kids by the wayside,” Burley said. “The kids on the edge academically, the ones that require more effort and investment by the schools. And it’s a shame.”

Contact reporter Joe Olenick at 439-9222, ext. 6241.

2008 STATE GRADUATION RATES

Percentage of students in each graduating class who finish high school in four years

• BARKER: 91 percent in 2008, up from 86 percent in 2007

• LOCKPORT: 75 percent in 2008, up from 71 percent in 2007

• NEWFANE: 84 percent in 2008, up from 80 percent in 2007

• ROYALTON-HARTLAND: 83 percent in 2008, up from 76 percent in 2007

• STARPOINT: 85 percent in 2008, up from 84 percent in 2007

• WILSON: 83 percent in 2008, down from 93 percent in 2007

- Source: New York State Education Department

HOW LOCAL DISTRICTS ARE DOING

Graduation performance scores compared to similar districts nationwide, a score of 100 points means a district is performing exactly as would be expected, over 100 means the district is surpassing expectations

• BARKER: 99.1 points

• LOCKPORT: 94.6 points

• NEWFANE: 77.8 points

• ROYALTON-HARTLAND: 91.1 points

• STARPOINT: 109.1 points

• WILSON: 101.6 points

- Source: Education Week, Editorial Projects in Education Research Center, using information from 2005-06 school year, which is the latest available nationally

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