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Garden City USD 457 reports record graduation rates, credits flexible programs and targeted supports

Board of Education, Unified School District No. 457 (Garden City) · November 11, 2025
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Summary

Garden City USD 457 reported strong graduation results and building leaders credited flexible scheduling, targeted supports and recovery programs for large gains.

Garden City USD 457 reported sharp gains in graduation outcomes at its board meeting, with district leaders presenting finalized rates published by the Kansas State Department of Education and local building results. Ryan Ming, principal of Garden City High School, said the high school cohort of 499 produced about 480 graduates and noted the building’s rate “is now at 96.2.”

District presenters explained the state’s calculation method and a new adjustment introduced under Senate Bill 45 that allows certain students to be exempted from the state’s published rate when they move in not on track to graduate. Diana Elliott, who leads the district’s virtual academy, and Christina Yankman, Achieve counselor, reviewed building‑level results: Achieve reported 47 of 52 seniors graduated (90.4%), and the virtual program’s published rate was 81.3% under its reporting window.

Superintendent and building leaders credited a mix of strategies for the gains: expanded dual‑credit and CTE offerings, credit recovery and acceleration options, more flexible scheduling (including night and 0‑hour options), targeted staffing such as graduation coaches, and stronger counseling supports. Ming and other presenters stressed personalized follow‑up: “We will follow up with kids 12 months after they are out of the classroom,” a JAG specialist said when describing similar follow‑up work that dovetails with district efforts.

Board members asked about students who did not graduate in four years and were told some continue into a fifth year through Achieve or virtual offerings; presenters said the district generally permits cohort students to continue in district programs beyond the four‑year cohort when appropriate. The district reported 566 graduates out of a potential 599 cohort members under the state’s published method (reported district rate: 94.5%).

The presentation closed with board praise for faculty and staff work to raise outcomes and a reminder that policy and funding discussions at the state level (including at‑risk funding) will affect sustainment of these strategies.