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District reports 73 twelfth‑grade withdrawals before graduation in 2024–25; Open Doors numbers drive much of the total
Summary
The district reported 73 students in grade 12 withdrew before graduation during 2024–25, with 36 from the Open Doors program; nonattendance and transfers were the most common recorded reasons and the district said reporting and counting practices were clarified this year.
The Arlington School District presented its annual report on students withdrawing prior to graduation under board policy 3123 at the July 14 meeting. Doctor Smith (Superintendent) delivered the report in Director Carrie Helkerson’s absence and said staff made an intentional effort this year to count students who were out of compliance for 20 or more days.
Doctor Smith said 73 twelfth‑grade students withdrew before graduation in 2024–25: 33 from Arlington High School, 4 from Weston, and 36 from the Open Doors program, which serves credit‑deficient students aged roughly 16–21. She said the district recorded 11 students ages 17–21 who withdrew this year, compared with 8 the prior year, and explained that Open Doors students are monitored for compliance even when there is no seat time.
The report listed common reasons for withdrawal when known: moving/transferring, nonattendance (20 or more days/out of compliance), enrollment in GED programs, or aging out. Doctor Smith said the district sometimes lacks contact information and must rely on school reporting; staff reported they improved record‑keeping and included students previously not counted because of nonattendance or reporting practice differences.
Board members asked for clarification about how the district counts withdrawals and whether recent legislation affects age‑out rules; staff noted a change in law in 2022 that may alter how students near age 21 are counted and said figures could look different in future reports.
Ending: The district will continue to refine reporting and outreach to make sure students who leave are identified and, where possible, re‑engaged or referred to alternative programs.
