Newberg High interim principal credits BARR program as ninth-grade on-track and graduation rates improve
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Summary
Interim Principal Mark Bridal highlighted the BARR program's role in lifting Newberg High School's ninth-grade on-track rate from 71% to 88% and the school's graduation rate to 91%; he also spotlighted new student clubs and noted staffing and facilities challenges.
Interim Newberg High principal Mark Bridal told the board that the Building Assets, Reducing Risks (BARR) program, targeted at ninth graders, is central to recent student-success gains.
Bridal said the district brought BARR to Newberg High in 2020–21 and that "our ninth grade on track rate has now increased to 88%" from a baseline near 71%, and that the reported graduation rate rose from roughly 85% to 91% for the 2024–25 school year. He credited teachers, coordinators and previous leadership for the progress and noted external recognition: state officials and the national BARR office visited district programs.
Bridal also highlighted student achievement and extracurricular revival: Newberg High reinstated an FBLA chapter; six students placed in the top 10 at regionals and will advance to state competitions, with named placings including Kate Waters (1st in cybersecurity) and Joseph Moizen (1st in economics).
In Q&A, Bridal said staff shortages and aging facilities remain challenges and described grant funding used to support teachers' extra time for BARR coordination. He said a stricter cell-phone policy implemented earlier in the year has produced positive staff-reported changes in student engagement.
Next steps: Bridal said he will return with embargoed state subgroup data when it becomes available and asked the board for continued support on staffing and facility planning.