Kennewick reports preliminary jump in graduation rates, forms 48‑member safety work group

Kennewick School District staff on Wednesday told the board the district’s preliminary graduation-rate figures for the Class of 2025 show improvement, and the superintendent announced a large community work group to review school safety practices.

A district presenter reported a 3.8 percentage‑point increase in the four‑year graduation cohort (to 82 percent) for the Class of 2025 and a 1.1 percent rise in the five‑year cohort. The presenter described the figures as preliminary and said the official report card posting by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction had not yet occurred.

Board members asked what drove the gain; staff said the district is still analyzing contributors but cited a sharper focus on high‑school and graduation planning, expanded competency credit options and local school efforts to ensure students are enrolled in required courses. "We are still trying to figure it out," the presenter said of the improvement, adding staff will provide a full breakdown to the board.

Superintendent Mr. Hansen also announced a newly formed safety work group of approximately 48 community and school stakeholders that will meet to develop recommendations for staff and board consideration. The group will examine four areas: physical components of safety, staffing (including potential officer roles), prevention strategies and communication/response protocols. Hansen said the group includes parents, community members, students and staff and that its first meeting is foundational and will include homework and learning about current district practices.

District staff said student input — including a student survey that showed many students did not know how to report a threat anonymously — informed the decision to prioritize communication in the work‑group charge.

The board did not take formal action on the graduation data or the work group during the meeting; staff said further briefings and a more detailed breakdown will be provided at a later date.