No. 2 Pencil by Mike Funk

Recently the Minnesota Department of Education released graduation data for 2015.  Albert Lea Area Schools saw a slight decrease at both the district level (75.7 percent of our students graduated in four years), and at Albert Lea High School (86.6 percent of our students graduated in four years). While we saw a slight decrease, our four-year success rates are still up about 6 percent since 2011. It is also important to note that our four-year graduation rate for students with special needs has more than doubled in the last four years. In 2012, 29 percent of special needs students graduated, while in 2015, 63 percent graduated).

Graduation rates are important, but they are only one piece of the story as the district continuously strives to improve.

Albert Lea Area Schools serves a high-needs population. About 19.1 percent of our students are special needs students, and 51.4 percent of our students receive free or reduced lunches because of the income level of their families. About 7.4 percent of our students are learning English as their second language. Many of our students start behind their classmates because of life circumstances they have no control over.

To meet the needs of all of our students, the district has done a remarkable job of implementing a guaranteed and viable curriculum across all grades in our elementary schools.

At the district level, our third-grade scores from last year in MCA math tests were some of the highest in the Big 9, even though Albert Lea has one of the highest poverty levels of Big 9 districts. Regardless of what elementary school they attend in Albert Lea, students are being exposed to and challenged by the same quality curriculum.

At Albert Lea High School, we have significantly increased rigor this year with the implementation of Advanced Placement coursework. Our school board has committed to Advanced Placement by agreeing to pay the test fee for every student in an Advanced Placement class.  If students score high enough on the AP exam, they will earn college credit that can be transferred throughout the United States. We anticipate approximately 200 AP exams will be given this spring.

Our district is fortunate to have hundreds of hard-working individuals who place the needs of the student first everyday. With the continued support of our families and community partners, we are on a path to become a district known throughout the state for excellence.

 

Mike Funk is superintendent of Albert Lea Area Schools.