PEORIA, Ill. – Graduation rates are rising at Peoria Public Schools.
That’s according to data in the Illinois Report Card released Monday. The district has an 81% graduation rate, up from 65.1% in 2015. It also reports that 89% of 9th grade students are on track to graduate on time, up from 74% in 2015.
Superintendent Dr. Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat, who was hired to the position in 2015, says focusing on the “daily grind” is helping boost graduation numbers.
“Every day we definitely have to be very, very focused,” Dr. Kherat said. “We have to try different strategies, which is what our strategic plan and our vision is allowing us to do. And just keep plugging away, keeping our eyes on the prize.”
Kherat says some of those strategies include providing flexible start times and days for students to attend school.
It’s also a strategy that is being used to try and fix one of the negatives in the report, chronic absenteeism. Chronic absenteeism is defined as students being absent for more than 10% of the school year, or at least 18 days. The district reported a 41% chronic absenteeism rate, compared to 39.3% the year prior.
Along with staggered start times, Kherat says administrators might have to think outside the box to address the issue. She says one potential idea is awarded trophies to students for good attendance.
The district also saw four schools improve their designation to commendable in the past school year. A commendable designation means there are no underperforming groups in the school, along with a graduation rate higher than 67%.
All three high schools received a commendable designation, with Peoria High improving its status. Dr. Maude A. Sanders Primary School also received a commendable designation, after performing as one of the lowest 5% of schools in the state.
Kherat credits new leadership, with a focus on culture and climate, on improvements at Maude A. Sanders.
“He was very focused on things like ensuring that they were following the curriculum, they were…which allow for grade level information being provided, meeting kids where they are, providing intervention,” Kherat said.
The district also reports increases in teacher retention, with 88 of full-time teachers returning to their position each year, up from 78% in 2015.
