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Superintendent cites rise in graduation rate, highlights AI reading tool and community partnerships
Summary
Superintendent Carmen Balgobin told the Volusia County School Board on Jan. 14 the district's 2023–24 graduation rate rose to 93.7 percent from 91.6, described a Reading Progress AI tool piloted in elementary classrooms, and noted community donations including 168 bicycles and safety gear from AdventHealth.
Volusia County Public Schools Superintendent Carmen Balgobin on Jan. 14 told the school board the district's 2023–24 graduation rate rose to 93.7 percent from 91.6 the prior year and that nine of the district's 10 traditional high schools showed year-over-year increases.
"Volusia County has seen an impressive 93.7 percent on our grad rate, which is an increase from 91.6 the previous year," Balgobin said during her report. She named several high schools and the changes in their graduation rates, including Atlantic High (up to 96.5%), DeLand High (96.5%), Deltona High (100%), Mainland High (94.8%), New Smyrna Beach High (97.2%), Pine Ridge High (97.8%), and University High (96%). She noted minor declines at Spruce Creek and a small change at Taylor Middle–High.
Balgobin credited the increase to a districtwide effort from pre-K through grade 12 and said a fuller presentation on graduation requirements and district monitoring systems will be presented at a future meeting.
The superintendent also described classroom work using an AI-based reading tool called Reading Progress. A short video shown to the board demonstrated the program recording a student's reading, providing real-time feedback on mispronounced words, breaking words into syllables, offering pronunciation and nonlinguistic supports, and giving teachers options to add comprehension questions. "We're using the AI to create a culture of students who want to be here, who want to learn, and giving them tools to enhance that process," she said.
Balgobin announced community partnerships and donations: AdventHealth provided 168 bicycles and — she said — matching helmets and locks for students to support attendance initiatives. She also thanked the Futures Foundation and other community partners for sponsoring teacher recognition events and said the district had seen a 5 percent decrease in chronic absenteeism in the first semester compared with its goal to reduce absenteeism by 10%.
She acknowledged the district's AI policy and said principals have been preparing implementation plans to ensure that classroom use of AI aligns with district policy. Balgobin concluded by noting upcoming events including school-choice fairs and literacy week.
The superintendent's remarks combined outcome data, program pilots and community partnership announcements; she said further details and metrics will be presented at later meetings.
