MUSCATINE, Iowa — Muscatine High School Principal Robert Weaton is finishing his first academic year at the school with some upbeat news.

The 2006 graduating class is close to and may surpass the District’s 2005-06 goal of increasing the MHS graduation rate to 80 percent.

“Last year, our graduation rate was 73 percent. Right now, we’re sitting at around 80 percent,” Weaton said this week.

“That’s a dramatic jump, but I give credit to all the effort our staff has made to keep kids in  school and going out into the community and encouraging students to come back.”

Becky Furlong, the District director of educational services, said the official 2005-06 graduation rate won’t be available until around February 2007 after the District numbers are calculated by the state. In addition, students have until August to make up any credits they would need to graduate in 2006.

“That number (80 percent) is our best guess,” said Furlong. “And we’re hoping we may even up it.”

Weaton and other District officials are pleased with the continuing rise in the graduation rate, which stood at 67.3 percent in 2004.

The National Center for Higher Education Management Systems cites the national graduation average as 69.6 percent and the Iowa state average as 83.2 for 2003-04, the most recent year for complete statewide data.

This spring, Weaton asked the Muscatine School Board to approve a new activity that will encourage new MHS students and all MHS freshmen and other newcomers to feel more welcome at their new school. Weaton’s proposal sets aside the first official day of school freshmen and the entire MHS staff. Other students won’t   attend school that day unless they are involved in an activity.  The  first “New Muskie Day,” will take place Thursday Aug. 31.

Another addition will provide a tutoring program where adults and students assist students with their schoolwork throughout the school day.  

Furlong and Weaton said students who still want to finish high school this school year can come to MHS during the summer weekdays to make up their academic credits in the school’s Accelerated Learning Center NovaNet lab. Students can also make up physical education credits in the gymnasium.

The NovaNet lab features computers programmed to allow students to complete course work at their own pace.

Those who do finish will be added to the total graduation rate.

State formula

The graduation rate is determined using a formula developed by the Iowa Department of Education. This formula has been used since the 2001-02 school year and tracks all students from their freshman through senior years.

Students who leave school and do not return and graduate count against the graduation rate, even those who obtain a general equivilency diploma or GED.

 Students who leave the District and go to another school do not count against the rate.

Furlong and Weaton said the state formula provides a more accurate comparison among all the high schools in Iowa than the data school districts collected in the past.

There was no state standard for calculating a graduation rate and Districts could determine their own formula for the dropout rate.

The Muscatine District attempted to keep track of how many students were dropping out of school prior to 2001-02, Superintendent Tom Williams said, but the accuracy was questionable.

In some instances, it was difficult to track students who might have left the District rather than quitting high school. In other instances, a student may have been counted two or more times if he or she left school and returned periodically throughout their high school career.

Weaton said MHS counselor Sue Thielmann has been diligent about tracking students.

“We’ve done a much better job of counting and figuring,” said Weaton.

The District is proposing a graduation target of 80 percent for the 2006-07 school year. The Muscatine School Board will vote on implementing that and other goals for the upcoming year during its regular Monday night meeting June 12.

Contact Cynthia Beaudette at

563-263-2331, ext. 323, or cynthia.beaudette@muscatinejournal.com