Pendleton Heights presentation: awards, test results, attendance plan and safety upgrades

Pendleton Heights High School principal Mike Rose and his staff presented a combined student recognition and data briefing to the South Madison Community School Corporation Board of School Trustees, highlighting character awards, academic results, attendance interventions and recent safety upgrades.

The presentation opened with a series of student recognitions. The school gave Character Counts awards to Troy Thorson (Trustworthiness), Addie Aldridge (Respect), Austin Perny (Fairness), Kate Cunningham (Caring) and others; the school named Tim Paine of Paine Technologies as the outstanding community partner and Jason Wallace as the above‑and‑beyond custodian award recipient.

The academic portion focused on assessment and college‑credit pathways. Pendleton Heights staff reported that "all of our students in grade 11 now take the SAT," a shift the district said increases participation to about 95 percent and produces more representative data, according to Dr. Pio, the high school's curriculum and instruction lead. Staff said overall scores remain above state and national averages; specific figures shown to the board said 28 percent of students met benchmarks in both math and English language arts, while 61 percent met the ELA benchmark (a 6‑point increase from the prior year).

Administrators discussed advanced coursework and dual credit: while Advanced Placement participation fell after recent graduating cohorts, the number of AP exams taken rose and dual‑credit enrollment continues to expand. The presentation said the district is emphasizing Indiana College Core dual‑credit opportunities so credits are more likely to transfer to state schools such as Purdue, Indiana University and Ball State.

On graduation and attendance, the school reported a 2024 cohort graduation rate near 96 percent, described as the third‑highest in 15 years of the school's tracking. Laurie Cummings and Ryan Jones outlined a multi‑step attendance system the high school uses to identify and intervene when students miss class. Cummings told the board that "once they hit that tenth absence, they run the risk of being removed from their class, getting an F, and receiving no credit" and described earlier steps at five and seven absences that include automated ParentSquare messages, conferences with the dean and targeted outreach. The staff said the school is also exploring incentive approaches and alternate placements (for example, the school's Carnegie learning center or virtual Edmentum courses) to keep students engaged.

The presentation included a section on safety and operations. A school safety specialist described recent changes to emergency language and procedures (standardizing terms such as evacuation drill, lockdown and shelter), the rollout of an electronic hall‑pass system ("I checked today. In 1 month, we had 6,000 passes," the specialist told the board), and a new staff badge access control system intended to reduce shared codes. Administrators said the high school's automated external defibrillators (AEDs) will be due for replacement in 2026 and that staff are discussing funding options with Chief Chris Nodine of the Pendleton Fire Department.

Administrators also highlighted extracurricular achievements (state placements in cross country, girls wrestling champion, girls basketball sectional champions, marching band ranking) and recognized a Lilly Endowment scholarship winner from the school.

Board members praised the presentation and commended the school's staff and students before the meeting recessed for a short break.