I know from personal experience that being on track in ninth grade is the track to success. I am sharing my story because I believe our state needs an intentional approach to focus on the success of those students in ninth grade, as that year has proven to be the most consequential indicator of success in a high school career.
Watch my story:
The data and research are crystal clear: ninth graders who end their first year of high school with enough credits to become sophomores are three to four times more likely to graduate on time – the linchpin for success in life. This ninth grade indicator is a better predictor of high school success than all other factors, including race, income, ZIP code, etc.
