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Destinations alternative-education program posts large graduation gains; board hears individualized supports
Summary
Destinations, Coos Bay SD 9's alternative-education site, reported graduation rate gains from 29% (initial baseline) to 79% in the most recent year. Principal Kayla described individualized student success plans, shortened credit cycles and project-based learning as drivers of the improvement.
Destinations, Coos Bay SD 9's alternative-education program, told trustees it has sharply increased on-time graduation and credit attainment after three years of targeted changes.
Principal Kayla Montiel said the program moved from a credit-recovery focus to a model of individualized supports and shorter credit cycles. "By 25/26 school year, we wanted 80 percent of our students to graduate on time," she told the board, describing an aggressive multiyear target tied to structured interventions, mentoring and hands-on learning.
What the presentation found - Enrollment and demographics: Destinations serves about 51 students across ninth through 12th grades. Staff reported a higher share of Alaska Native/Native American students and sizable numbers receiving 504 or IEP services. - Graduation trend and credit attainment: The site reported an improvement from a historical 29 percent graduation rate (three years earlier) to 52 percent in one year and 79 percent in the most recent year. Administrators attributed gains to individualized student success plans, mentorship and Friday project seminars. - Credit recovery and coursework: Destinations uses quarter-based schedules rather than semesters to give students shorter, attainable credit windows. Staff reported 119 quarter-2 credits and 186.62 quarter-1 credits districtwide at one point in the presentation; the site reported low F rates due to flexible grading timelines and options to replace low marks. - Student engagement and community partnerships: Students participated in watershed restoration, museum projects and community volunteer events. The site also piloted student representation to the board. - Discipline and program model: Staff said the program emphasizes conversation and problem solving rather than referral-heavy discipline; suspension rates reported were low.
Trustee discussion Board members asked about whether Destinations' model could be scaled to other schools and how success plans could inform district practice. Kayla said individualized mentoring is easier with a small enrollment and that staff are piloting interventions that have informed other classrooms in the district. She said the program's small size is a structural advantage but that some strategies are being shared with other sites.
Next steps Principal Kayla said the district will complete analysis of the student-success-plan pilot, then decide which elements could be adapted or scaled. Trustees thanked the site for the progress and asked staff to return with replication ideas and evaluation data.
Provenance: Destinations presentation begins when the Principal announced she was presenting on the site and concludes when district leaders and trustees praised the program's work.
