Post by Moon Seeker on Aug 5, 2009 21:41:31 GMT -5
'We need to overcome': School district sees spike in Native American graduates
By Kayla Gahagan, Journal staff | Tuesday, August 04, 2009
DeCora Hawk knows that, for every one of her fellow Native American classmates handed a diploma at the end of their senior year in high school, another dropped out.
But Hawk, a 17-year-old senior, said for all the unique challenges Native students face in graduating high school -- particularly stereotypes and discrimination -- they have just as many reasons to stick it out.
"This is a new generation," she said. "Discrimination is still here, but it's not as visible as it was 50 years ago. We're sick and tired of the stereotypes. We need to overcome that."
As Hawk thumbed through an advanced algebra book in a Central High School classroom last week during summer school, she wasn't surprised to hear Rapid City schools enjoyed a 16 percent spike in the Native American graduation rate. The numbers were released last week as part of federal No Child Left Behind testing.
"People are realizing stereotypes don't affect them, because it's their decision," she said.
Central High School, which enrolls the largest number of Native American students in the district, had several reasons to celebrate the scores.
Central students met adequate yearly progress in math and reading for the second time since the federal NCLB law was enacted. The students also increased their reading scores from 26 percent proficient in 2008 to 59 percent in 2009. Math followed the same trend, rising from 30 percent in 2008 to 39 percent this year.
In one year, the graduation rate climbed 16 percent to 57 percent.
"We're pleased with the progress," Central principal Mike Talley said. "We're happy with the results, but we have a lot of work to do."
Assistant superintendent Katie Bray agreed.
"We have to continue to do more," she said.
Positive changes to the climate of the school, staff, teachers and students like Hawk -- who took the summer school advanced algebra class simply to "to get ahead" for college -- all contribute to the success, Talley said.
"That speaks volumes to the quality of the teachers here and speaks to the stereotypes out there about Native American kids that they're not capable of going to a public school and being successful," he said. "There are a lot of good Native American kids. They come here to learn."
The district also relies heavily on Title VII funding and a Bush grant to focus on at-risk Native students who benefit from mentoring, tutoring and more parental involvement. A change in the former Lakolkiciyapi room has also benefited students, officials say. Students work with a graduation coach, and the help is available to all Native students in all grades.
"It's trying to dangle that carrot out there for them to see the light at the end of the tunnel," he said.
Graduation rates for Native students have steadily increased at Central from 41 percent in 2007 to 55 percent this year. The overall graduation rate for all students at the school is about 80 percent, and Talley is optimistic the school can close the gap between Natives and non-Natives.
"We're not where we want to be -- but we'll get there."
Contact Kayla Gahagan at 394-8410 or kayla.gahagan@rapidcityjournal.com
www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2009/08/04/news/local/doc4a7774451c9de763021758.txt
By Kayla Gahagan, Journal staff | Tuesday, August 04, 2009
DeCora Hawk knows that, for every one of her fellow Native American classmates handed a diploma at the end of their senior year in high school, another dropped out.
But Hawk, a 17-year-old senior, said for all the unique challenges Native students face in graduating high school -- particularly stereotypes and discrimination -- they have just as many reasons to stick it out.
"This is a new generation," she said. "Discrimination is still here, but it's not as visible as it was 50 years ago. We're sick and tired of the stereotypes. We need to overcome that."
As Hawk thumbed through an advanced algebra book in a Central High School classroom last week during summer school, she wasn't surprised to hear Rapid City schools enjoyed a 16 percent spike in the Native American graduation rate. The numbers were released last week as part of federal No Child Left Behind testing.
"People are realizing stereotypes don't affect them, because it's their decision," she said.
Central High School, which enrolls the largest number of Native American students in the district, had several reasons to celebrate the scores.
Central students met adequate yearly progress in math and reading for the second time since the federal NCLB law was enacted. The students also increased their reading scores from 26 percent proficient in 2008 to 59 percent in 2009. Math followed the same trend, rising from 30 percent in 2008 to 39 percent this year.
In one year, the graduation rate climbed 16 percent to 57 percent.
"We're pleased with the progress," Central principal Mike Talley said. "We're happy with the results, but we have a lot of work to do."
Assistant superintendent Katie Bray agreed.
"We have to continue to do more," she said.
Positive changes to the climate of the school, staff, teachers and students like Hawk -- who took the summer school advanced algebra class simply to "to get ahead" for college -- all contribute to the success, Talley said.
"That speaks volumes to the quality of the teachers here and speaks to the stereotypes out there about Native American kids that they're not capable of going to a public school and being successful," he said. "There are a lot of good Native American kids. They come here to learn."
The district also relies heavily on Title VII funding and a Bush grant to focus on at-risk Native students who benefit from mentoring, tutoring and more parental involvement. A change in the former Lakolkiciyapi room has also benefited students, officials say. Students work with a graduation coach, and the help is available to all Native students in all grades.
"It's trying to dangle that carrot out there for them to see the light at the end of the tunnel," he said.
Graduation rates for Native students have steadily increased at Central from 41 percent in 2007 to 55 percent this year. The overall graduation rate for all students at the school is about 80 percent, and Talley is optimistic the school can close the gap between Natives and non-Natives.
"We're not where we want to be -- but we'll get there."
Contact Kayla Gahagan at 394-8410 or kayla.gahagan@rapidcityjournal.com
www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2009/08/04/news/local/doc4a7774451c9de763021758.txt