By Staff
Hartselle High School receives state grant
Leada Gore, Hartselle Enquirer
A state grant is taking aim at reducing the dropout rate in Morgan County Schools.
The county system is receiving $200,000 to use to help lower its dropout rate. The most recent Alabama Department of Education statistics show some Morgan County's schools have a higher dropout than state goals.
Brewer High School's graduation rate is 66 percent, 34 percent below the state goal of 90 percent. Other graduation rates were: Priceville High School, 88 percent; Danville High School, 87 percent; West Morgan High School, 81 percent; and Falkville High School, 73 percent.
Brewer's back-to-back failure to meet graduation requirements has landed it on the state list of schools that need improvement. The state sends additional support to work with schools with this designation.
The Morgan County System is one of 38 state schools taking part in the Preparing Alabama Students for Success (PASS) program. PASS is designed for at-risk students in sixth-12th grade. PASS aims to improve attendance and academic achievement through support programs and community outreach. It is specifically designed to help students with the transition from middle to high school.
Other schools will be taking part in the Dropout Prevention Advisor (DPA) program. DPA will provide an advisor to work with students in ninth through 12th grade to direct and encourage students.
Both pilot programs are being funded through the Alabama Legislature. To qualify for the programs, systems had to show a lack of progress in raising graduation rates.