Molalla River SD 35 corrects graduation-rate reporting after data reconciliation; on-time rate rises to about 80%

District leaders told the Molalla River SD 35 board that state-published graduation figures released in November understated the district's four-year on-time graduation rate because of unverified withdrawal codes and missing records; after a systematic review and outreach to other schools and programs, staff said the corrected 2024 on-time graduation rate should be about 80%.

Dr. Mann opened the presentation by saying the district's on-time graduation figure reported last fall was lower than expected and that staff had since "peeled back the layers on this data." David, a district data analyst, walked the board through the technical causes, which included missing or incorrect exit codes in the student information system and unreturned records requests when students transferred or enrolled in alternative programs.

Why this matters: The state's November public report is used in accountability reporting and public profiles. District staff said they have a responsibility to validate exit codes and student records before public release and apologized to the board and community for the earlier inaccuracy.

What staff found and fixed: Staff reported that the district's graduation cohort for the 2024 on-time calculation comprised 203 students. Of those, 48 students walked at graduation in the spring. Initially, 55 students were categorized as unverified or non-graduates; after calls and document collection staff reclassified 21 of those 55 (including six students who had graduated, exchange students who were miscoded, and 13 verified transfers). David said nine of the cohort are still in process as fifth-year completers and 23 remain as non-graduates in the current reconciliation.

Staff also presented data on student mobility: over a four-year period roughly 40% of the student population experienced in-or-out moves; staff said that mobility complicates cohort tracking and contributed to reporting mismatches during a period of staff turnover and system changes. The presentation showed improving stability metrics since the peak pandemic years, with district stability rising in the most recent year toward three-quarters of students remaining continuously enrolled during the cohort period.

Interventions and next steps: Staff credited Jen Hinkle, the district's dean of students who was reassigned as a success coach this year, with reengaging credit-deficient juniors and seniors and placing 16 students into alternative pathways (including GED preparation, Job Corps, the district's technical education center and other programs); staff said three of those students already completed GEDs this year. The district said it has implemented a more rigorous tracking spreadsheet and records-request workflow (managed by a staff member named Brooklyn), strengthened onboarding and cross-training for personnel who manage student records, and will continue outreach to verify out-of-district transfers and alternative-program enrollments.

Outcomes and verification: After reconciliations, district staff said the corrected on-time graduation rate should be about 80% for the class referenced, with a projected five-year cohort rate of roughly 83% and a potential five-year further increase to the mid-80s depending on students still completing credits over the summer. Staff said they plan to submit validated records to the state and avoid a repeat of publication errors.

Board response: Board members thanked staff for the review and asked staff to document the improved processes so the district retains institutional knowledge. No formal action was required at the meeting; staff described immediate procedural changes to record management, data validation and student reengagement work.