District 1 takes steps to improve graduation rate at high schools

By: Morning News | SCNOW
Published: July 30, 2008

Lots of positive things are occurring in Florence School District 1, in other Pee Dee school districts and in South Carolina.

There is always plenty of attention on things that need improving.

And the Morning News, we think, does a good job of pointing those out along with the positive things that are happening in our schools.

One of the many challenges facing us in South Carolina is the graduation rate of our students.

As with lots of other statistics, there are differences of opinion about the graduation rate.

But things in our state our improving — at one of the fastest rates in the nation.

But we still have a long way to go.

The latest figures put the rate at a little better than 55 percent.

That’s unacceptable.

In Florence District 1, the rate is about 70 percent.

That’s certainly much better than the state average, but needs to get better.

And there are a number of programs in place to help students along the way.

And now the district is taking another step.

The district is working to put in place a program to go out and actually go to the homes of students who have not registered for school after the first week.

Volunteers will be urging the students to come back to school and try and work with them to solve any issues that are in the way of them completing their education.

Superintendent Larry Jackson announced the program Monday, which is called “Opening Doors to the Future.”

The effort will take place Saturday, Aug. 23.

The effort that Saturday is one of 16 projects that the district is implementing under what they are calling Graduate Florence.

It’s an effort that alone won’t solve the problem, but it’s another step in the right direction.

And we commend the district and those volunteers working to make it happen.

To volunteer, call Jim Shaw, coordinator of health and physical education for Florence 1, at (843) 673-1128 or Debbie Hyler, executive director of The School Foundation, at (843) 662-9996. Volunteer sign up forms will be available online at www.fsd1.org or www.theschoolfoundation.org. Forms can be faxed to (843) 662-9866.

Volunteer training will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, at Poynor Adult/Community Education Center, 301 S. Dargan St., Florence.

On the Web
Florence School District 1, www.fsd1.org