Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Alternative Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Coombs alternative education reports rising credits and graduation rates, plans barbering CTE
Summary
Dr. Melissa Lee told trustees Coombs alternative education saw credits-per-semester averages rise to about 45.4 in 2025 and graduation rates climb toward 82%; the program will launch a barbering CTE pathway in fall 2026 and expand dual‑enrollment opportunities.
Dr. Melissa Lee, principal of Coombs Alternative Education, presented the school’s progress and plans at the Banning Unified board meeting on Feb. 11, citing measurable gains in credits earned per semester and graduation rates.
Lee said that credit recovery systems, flexible scheduling and targeted interventions helped the school move from pre‑COVID averages near 21.3 credits per semester to an average she cited of 45.4 credits per student in 2025. "This growth in credits earned per semester is one of the clearest indicators that our model is working," she said.
Lee also described graduation-rate improvements at New Horizons and Banning Independent Study School, noting growth from roughly 41.4% in 2020 to about 82% in the most recent data for New Horizons. She stressed that graduation is the program’s goal, not temporary stabilization: "Our goal is graduation."
Looking ahead, Lee asked the board to support expansion of career technical education, announcing plans to launch a barbering pathway in fall 2026 that would allow students to complete a one‑year CTE pathway and work toward a barber's license in two years. She also flagged dual‑enrollment expansion with local colleges and continued emphasis on wellness centers, PBIS, and community partnerships such as the UC Master Gardener program.
Trustees did not vote on new funding during the presentation; the remarks were framed as a program update and part of the district’s LCAP and site visit work.
