Thanks to "adopting" a student, graduating numbers in Pasco are going up
PASCO, Wash. -- Christian Wilson-Zavaleta is setting an example for his siblings. As a senior at Pasco High, he's anxiously looking forward to graduating in June.
"It feels really good, this feeling of going to this school all 4 years, it's just, like, satisfying, now that I'm right there, it's like what's next!?", says Wilson-Zavaleta
What's next is up to Christian.
"I’m applying at Gonzaga, Eastern, CBC, WSU and music college in Florida", he says.
He's poised to become one of Pasco's success stories.
KEPR found in the most recent figures from 2010, Pasco Schools had the most on-time graduates of the three districts in the Tri-Cities.
In fact, Pasco graduated roughly 17% more students that year than the year before.
Its overall on-time graduation rate was 75.5%, compared to 69.9% in Kennewick, and 72.4 in Richland.
KEPR also learned Pasco's extended graduation rates were also the highest.
This factors in students who graduated after four years
Pasco credits its success to a change in the way it does things.
This includes the program, "Adopt a student."
The students get taken in by a teacher, the teacher looks at the problem area and helps them out making sure that when the students leave those doors they are ready for graduation and a better career.
"We kinda look and see where our kids are, how they are doing and we make a list and say ok these are maybe kids that have a little bit of a red flag and what can we do for them?", says Pasco Teacher, Kaylee Sixklyller.
Students are also finding it a success.
"We can go just go through each assignment step by step and we can figure it out", says Wilson-Zavaleta.
And figuring it out is leading to more success for the Pasco Schools.
KEPR double-checked these number with the state superintendent's office to verify they were the most recent, and the most accurate.
"It feels really good, this feeling of going to this school all 4 years, it's just, like, satisfying, now that I'm right there, it's like what's next!?", says Wilson-Zavaleta
What's next is up to Christian.
"I’m applying at Gonzaga, Eastern, CBC, WSU and music college in Florida", he says.
He's poised to become one of Pasco's success stories.
KEPR found in the most recent figures from 2010, Pasco Schools had the most on-time graduates of the three districts in the Tri-Cities.
In fact, Pasco graduated roughly 17% more students that year than the year before.
Its overall on-time graduation rate was 75.5%, compared to 69.9% in Kennewick, and 72.4 in Richland.
KEPR also learned Pasco's extended graduation rates were also the highest.
This factors in students who graduated after four years
Pasco credits its success to a change in the way it does things.
This includes the program, "Adopt a student."
The students get taken in by a teacher, the teacher looks at the problem area and helps them out making sure that when the students leave those doors they are ready for graduation and a better career.
"We kinda look and see where our kids are, how they are doing and we make a list and say ok these are maybe kids that have a little bit of a red flag and what can we do for them?", says Pasco Teacher, Kaylee Sixklyller.
Students are also finding it a success.
"We can go just go through each assignment step by step and we can figure it out", says Wilson-Zavaleta.
And figuring it out is leading to more success for the Pasco Schools.
KEPR double-checked these number with the state superintendent's office to verify they were the most recent, and the most accurate.
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