Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Evening Academy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Evening Academy credited with boosting Granite City HS graduation rate, presenters say
Summary
At the July 22 board meeting, Dr. David Kiel and Assistant Principal Marvin Battle described the Evening Academy’s hybrid schedule, safety measures and supports that they say helped 51 students graduate and contributed roughly 9.5% to the district’s Class of 2025 graduation total.
Dr. David Kiel and Assistant Principal Marvin Battle on July 22 told the Granite City School District 9 Board of Education that the Evening Academy has helped students recover credits, improve attendance and graduate at higher rates.
Battle told the board the academy served 128 students during the past school year and that 51 of those students earned diplomas — 19 in December and 30 in May. Battle said 38 of those 49 graduates were four‑year graduates and that the academy’s graduates represented about 9.5% of the district’s overall Class of 2025, which the presenters said totaled 399 students. “This program is my jam,” Battle said, describing the program as a place where students who struggle in traditional day school succeed in a smaller, more-focused setting.
The presenters outlined the program’s structure: a hybrid, block schedule with three classes on Monday/Wednesday and three on Tuesday/Thursday, a credit‑recovery pathway that uses Edgenuity online courses alongside teacher‑led instruction, and participation in a work‑study program that can earn elective credits. Attendance for the academy was reported at about 80.19% in the fall and 85.56% in the spring (82.8% overall), figures presenters described as strong for a population often labeled chronically truant.
Battle also described safety and access measures: metal detectors at student entry points and a key‑fob entry system that limits access to staff and enrolled students, with doors locked at other times. He said Evening Academy students retain access to extracurricular events such as homecoming and prom so they remain connected to Granite City High School.
The presentation highlighted nonacademic supports including family nights to improve parent‑teacher connections, monthly student recognition, graduation celebrations and new instructional materials for 2025–26 (purchased microscopes and scientific calculators). Students featured in a short video that accompanied the presentation said smaller class sizes and one‑on‑one time with teachers helped them reengage in school. One student said the academy “helped me grow a great amount compared to being in day school.”
Board members in attendance praised the academy’s results and thanked staff. No board action was required on the presentation; the board went on to consider routine agenda and personnel items.
