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District chiefs outline credit-tracking, recovery and support to boost freshmen earning five credits
Summary
Rochester officials told the board they are using cohort trackers, credit-recovery options and counselor outreach to raise the share of 9th graders earning five or more credits, part of a broader board goal to increase on-time graduation.
Donna Lucy Linder, chief of Network 1, presented data on ninth-grade credit accumulation and interventions designed to raise the percentage of 9th graders who earn five or more credits.
Linder said the work supports Board Goal 1d (increase the number of students earning five or more credits in 9th grade from 70% in September 2023 to 90% by June 2028). She said schools distribute New York State graduation requirements to families, run cohort-trackers for credit accumulation, and require counselors to hold one-on-one goals meetings with 9th graders.
The board saw school-level pass rates after the first marking period. Linder reported a range of on-track percentages by school and an overall district snapshot showing about 60% of 9th graders on track after the first marking period. The presentation listed interventions available to students who are off track: marking-period (short-window) recovery, online credit recovery (district virtual academy), extended-day and Saturday options, summer-bridge, and in-recess credit-repair sessions.
Board members asked about whether students consistently know their credit totals. Linder and Chief Torres said counselors hold goal meetings and progress reports are provided; the district also sends report cards and maintains PowerSchool parent portals where credit information is available. Commissioners urged clearer communication so families and students can act early if credits are at risk.
Linder said some schools have adopted strong kickoff practices for 9th graders—explicitly teaching the five-credit expectation and pairing that messaging with supports such as after-school recovery or parent-engagement sessions. Officials said they are exploring bus arrangements to expand before-school recovery in some sites.
Ending
Leaders described credit tracking and recovery as a mix of school-level tactics (counselor outreach, cohort trackers) and district options (virtual credit recovery, summer bridge). Board members asked for clearer presentation formats (graphs and clearer passing/failing breakdowns) and reiterated that consistent communication to families is crucial to improve on-track rates.
