Roosevelt Stands Out in Portland Grad Rate Rise

New data released last week by the Oregon Department of Education show that graduation rates are on the rise statewide, and 59 percent of Portland Public Schools’ students earned a regular diploma in four years, compared to 54 percent last year. Of the Portland schools with a significant graduation rate increase is Roosevelt High School, one of the NEA Priority Schools Campaign intensive support sites.

As reported by The Portland Tribune:

Most of PPS high schools saw marked gains; two stood out with significant success.

Roosevelt High School, now in its second year of using federal school improvement grant money, bumped its four-year graduation rate up 14 percentage points, from 38 percent to 51 percent.

The infusion of $7.7 million during three years – as well as steady leadership by Principal Charlene Williams, a reinvigorated staff and parent community and a motivated student body – is apparently paying off.