Board reviews Helios graduation projections; district adopts CLT as state-paid test this year

Board members discussed a Helios Foundation report of projected graduation and lifetime-earnings impacts and examined how course offerings, student interests and marketing tie to postsecondary outcomes. Separately, staff explained why the district had the CLT (Classical Learning Test) available as the state-funded test for high schools this year.

The discussion matters because graduation rates and the choice of state-funded assessment affect postsecondary eligibility (including Bright Futures scholarship thresholds), district course planning and community economic forecasts.

Board Member Smith walked the board through a Helios Foundation excerpt that maps projected educational attainment to lifetime income outcomes and community economic impact, framing the data as a tool for prioritizing programs and course offerings. “If we do this, if we do that, and if we retain them, then this is the potential, benefit that our community can see,” she said.

On tests, district staff explained that the state pays for one test per year (SAT, ACT, or CLT) and that principals and test coordinators voted to select the CLT as the state-funded option for this year. “The CLT was the majority because it really has a lower score to help students get the HOPE scholarship and it gives more of an opportunity for those students that are taking it to get that HOPE scholarship,” a staff member said during the meeting; board members then clarified that the scholarship referenced is Bright Futures.

Staff said choosing the CLT does not prevent parents or students from taking the SAT or ACT on other dates, and that schools can still offer other tests if families want them. Staff noted the CLT may better align with Bright Futures thresholds in some cases but may be less useful for students planning to apply out of state; the district said it will revisit the choice annually and that high schools and test coordinators made the selection this year.

Board members linked the data conversation to district work on Xello (a career-interest and planning platform) and the annual “WOW” event; they discussed expanding career-interest surveying to earlier grades and using results to inform course offerings and internship connections. The board asked staff to bring back further information on Xello integration and to continue the graduation-rate conversations as a regular agenda item.