Ottumwa Community School District celebrated a significant milestone during its recent board meeting, revealing a remarkable increase in graduation rates for the 2023-2024 school year. The graduation rate at Ottumwa High School soared to 94.74%, a notable rise from just over 91% the previous year, marking what officials believe to be the highest rate in the school's history.

Maria, a district representative, expressed pride in the achievement, emphasizing the hard work that led to this success. "It's hard to keep increasing once you hit the 90 percent mark, but we are really proud of our high school and the work it's done to keep that number going up," she stated. The Gateway program also showed impressive progress, with graduation rates climbing from 62.22% to 75%, attributed to the supportive and personalized learning environment provided to students.

The meeting also highlighted a significant drop in dropout rates. At Ottumwa High School, the dropout rate decreased from nearly 3% to 1.94%, while Gateway's dropout rate fell dramatically from 12.5% to 4.38%. This decline reflects the district's commitment to creating a safe and supportive atmosphere for students, which has been a key factor in improving both graduation and retention rates.

The board discussed the importance of tracking these metrics accurately, noting that graduation rates are calculated over four years, while dropout rates reflect annual student departures. The district's efforts to enhance resources, including mental health support and smaller class sizes, have contributed to these positive outcomes.

As the meeting concluded, the district announced plans to release a press statement detailing these achievements, reinforcing the significance of the progress made in fostering student success. The community can look forward to continued improvements as the district builds on this momentum.