10 Strategies for Improving High School Graduation Rates and Student Achievement

by Gene Bottoms

This report contains 10 best practices for improving high school graduation rates and student achievement. The practices include setting up a state accountability system; getting middle grades students ready for high school; strengthening the transition from the middle grades to ninth grade; requiring that all high school students complete a solid academic core; having high school students take additional academic courses beyond the required core; creating partnerships with employers and colleges to provide students access to high-quality career/technical studies; requiring schools to develop an extra-help system; getting students to make full use of the senior year; providing additional support for the lowest-performing high schools in the state; and developing teams of district and state leaders to help low-performing high schools.

(06V65); 16 pages; 2006; $2; $1 each for 10 or more

Goal that it reflects: 4. All young adults have a high school diploma - or, if not, pass the GED tests.