Missoula high schools rank on top among Class AA high schools in 2012 Montana graduation rate

Missoula’s three high schools – Big Sky, Hellgate and Sentinel – have achieved the highest graduation rates in the state among Montana’s Class AA High Schools for the 2011-12 school year, according to recent data compiled by Montana’s Office of Public Instruction (OPI).

Missoula County Public Schools released documents today (based on OPI data) that show Sentinel High School had the highest graduation rate at 92.7 percent for 2012; Big Sky and Hellgate high schools were next, each achieving a graduation rate of 88.9 percent, and Bozeman High School followed with a graduation rate of 86.5 percent, The remaining 10 Class AA high schools had graduation rates ranging from 72.7 percent to a high of 84.2 percent. These graduation rates are compiled for Montana’s No Child Left Behind Annual Report Card.

As a district, Missoula County Public Schools also had the highest graduation rate among the seven districts with Class AA high schools across the state. The District’s rate of 90.3 percent was followed by the Bozeman High School District at 86.5 percent and Helena High School District at 83.1 percent.

The graduation rate for a high school represents the number of students who graduate in four years with a regular high school diploma divided by the number of students who form the adjusted cohort for the graduating class. From the beginning of 9th grade, students who enter that grade for the first time form a "cohort" that is subsequently "adjusted" by adding any students who transfer into the cohort during the next four years, and subtracting students who transfer to other schools or emigrate out of country.

The Montana Office of Public Instruction also calculates annual dropout rates for Class AA schools. Big Sky High School had the lowest student dropout rate in the state in 2012 among double A schools at 1.9 percent. Sentinel High School was next at 2.0 percent, followed by Capital high School in Helena at 2.5 percent and Bozeman High School at 2.7 percent. Hellgate High School ranked 7th of the 14 Double A schools at 3.7 percent.

Missoula’s high schools have targeted improvement of graduation rates and reduction of dropout rates in the past three years as part of the District’s "Graduation Matters Missoula" Initiative. Graduation Matters Missoula was launched in early 2010 to bring the entire Missoula community together to focus on keeping students in school through graduation.

MCPS has launched several special programs in the high school district in the past three years to provide more meaningful experiences for students. These includes the International Baccalaureate Programme at Hellgate High School, Health Science Academy at Big Sky High School and a more enhanced program of Advanced Placement (AP) and dual credit classes at Sentinel High School. Additional programs are in development in support of the District’s 21st Century Model of Education.

"I am so proud of the work that our high school staff, as well as our students, parents and community members, are doing to support students and families throughout their high school experience. We all have been working diligently to improve procedures and policies, and develop programs that engage high school students on a different level and provide them with options so that they can be successful in high school," said MCPS Superintendent Alex P. Apostle. "This really is a community effort."

For additional information on MCPS graduation rates or drop out data for the 2011-12 school year, please contact Mark Thane at 728-2400, ext. 1074 or 239-9055, or via email at [email protected].