A Message from the Superintendent:
At our school board meeting on Thursday, January 9th, I shared my concerns about the Indiana Department of Education’s current process for determining graduation rates. Additionally, I asserted my belief that the graduation rate that was publicized for Pike High School was inaccurate. As the Superintendent of Schools, I am unwilling to allow a flawed system to impact our high school, our district, and most importantly, our community.
There are several factors outside of our control that impact our graduation rate. For example, if a student withdraws from Pike High School and moves to another country, that student will be counted as a drop out unless we receive a transcript request. Our exceptional learners are counted as drop outs after 4 years even though we provide services until they are 22 years old. I was particularly frustrated by a situation we encountered this year, when students who left Pike High School to participate in another accredited opportunity such as Job Corp were considered drop outs and counted against our 2019 graduation rate even though we could prove they received an Indiana Diploma.