Kristen Grama, the district’s high school curriculum coordinator, told the Sioux Falls School District 49-5 board on Nov. 10 that the district has made steady progress in on-time graduation over the past six years and continues to exceed the state average.

Grama said the district’s on-time graduation rate moved from just under 85% to just under 90% and that completion rates (students earning a diploma or completing requirements within five years) remain around 90%. She highlighted programs supporting that progress: the summer Connections program to help eighth-graders transition into high school, the Freshman Academy (offered since 2008) that places freshmen on small teams with strong adult support, and recovery and intervention options for students who fall behind.

“Since 2008, between 91%–96% of freshmen in the Freshman Academy have advanced to tenth grade,” Grama said. She also noted that the district serves a large number of students with IEPs and English-language learners; Grama observed the RISE program population (students eligible to stay until age 21) is about 2.5% of the district.

Board members asked questions and praised the work. One board member cited figures presented in the report—quoting the district at 88.7% and the state at 85.7%—and said the data demonstrate the district’s targeted supports are producing results. The board voted to acknowledge the report.

The presentation did not include binding policy decisions; it was an informational report the board formally acknowledged. District staff encouraged families to enroll in Connections and other transitional supports, and said monitoring will continue throughout students’ high-school careers.