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Ottumwa reports higher graduation rates and sharply lower dropout rates; district credits program changes
Summary
Superintendent and district staff presented certified graduation and dropout data showing a rise in Ottumwa High School's graduation rate (to 94.74%) and a large increase at Gateway (to 75%), with dropout rates falling; staff attributed gains to personalized programs, added supports and lower absenteeism.
District administrators presented certified graduation and dropout figures showing gains at Ottumwa High School and Gateway High School and described several system changes they said contributed to the improvement.
Superintendent (name not specified) introduced the report and turned the presentation over to Maria (staff member), who presented certified rates. Maria said, “we're really, really proud of that,” when describing the increase in Ottumwa High School’s graduation rate to 94.74 percent. She said the rate is higher than the statewide rate and that the figure represents a cohort tracked from freshman year through graduation.
District figures presented in the meeting record included: - Ottumwa High School graduation rate: 22–23 school year just over 91%; rose to 94.74% in the most recently certified year. - Gateway High School graduation rate: 22–23 school year 62.22%; rose to 75% in the most recent certified year. - OHS dropout rate: from just under 3% (22–23) to about 1.94% (most recent year). - Gateway dropout rate: from about 12.5% (22–23) to roughly 4.38% (most recent year).
District staff and principals attributed the gains to a mix of systemwide changes and on-campus supports, including smaller learning cohorts, expanded staffing for ELL and special education, reading intervention and increased mental-health supports (therapy classrooms, a “brain health room” and a zen room at Gateway). Principals Bram Shiver and Aaron Ruff were cited by staff as describing these supports and the district’s “Be the Best” plan as contributors to higher graduation rates and lower absenteeism.
Presenters noted differences between graduation-rate and dropout-rate calculations: graduation rate follows a cohort across four years, while dropout rate measures how many students leave enrollment in a given year. Staff also said the state’s certification process means the data are typically about a year old but are the official, certified figures.
Superintendent’s office plans to issue a press release with these certified figures; staff said the release would be distributed to the board the following day. The board had no substantive follow-up questions during the presentation.
