Last week, Colorado policymakers joined educators from across Colorado, Arizona, Washington, and Oregon at Poudre High School for the first-ever Center for High School Success Demonstration School Learning Lab.
Over 60 attendees learned directly from the educators at Poudre leading the ninth-grade success work that has been recognized by Colorado Governor Polis as transformational. Over the past three years of partnership with Stand’s Center for High School Success, Poudre has increased 9th grade on-track rates by 13%. Poudre was one of the first schools in Colorado to receive a Ninth Grade Success Grant from the Colorado Department of Education.
Supporting students by implementing a 9th Grade Success approach has consistently shown to improve graduation rates. In fact, students who are “on-track” (meaning they have no more than one F) at the end of their 9th grade year are three times more likely to graduate from high school than their off-track peers. 9th Grade Success programming includes targeted interventions, transition supports, school-based teaching teams, and certain instructional approaches.
“The passion for this work from the educators at Poudre is incredible. We are proud of our partnership with them and excited their work is serving as a model for other schools and districts implementing the ninth-grade approach,” said Stand Colorado Executive Director, Krista Spurgin.
The CHSS Demonstration Schools were chosen for their sustained improvement, consistently high 9th Grade On-Track Rates, and exemplary implementation of the CHSS Roadmap. You can read more about why Poudre was selected as a leader in this work and hear directly from school Principal Kathy Mackay about their work in this blog.
