10 Strategies for Raising Achievement and Improving High School Completion Rates

by Gene Bottoms

This brochure gives a brief overview of 10 strategies that states, districts and schools can implement to raise student achievement while increasing high school graduation rates. The strategies include improving middle grades to high school transition; extra-help systems for students who fail a course or need to recover credit and pass high-stakes exams; five-year programs of studies for students; access to quality career/technical studies in high-demand, high-paying career fields; helping students become independent learners; better transition from high school to postsecondary studies and careers; using technology for credit recovery and meeting standards for exit exams; improving state policies and their impact on graduation rates; developing an emphasis on low-performing high schools; and creating state leadership academies for district and school leaders.

Keywords:high school completion rates, credit recovery, transitions, low-performing schools, state leadership academies

(04V50); 4 pages; 2004; $1

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