June 27, 2011
06/28/11 Argos High School was named among twelve high schools around the state to receive the Indiana Graduation Rate Performance incentive. The program was first created in 2009.
Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Bennett said, ““I am proud of all schools across the state that have increased their graduation rates, but these twelve schools shine brightest for driving dramatic increases in the number of students receiving meaningful high school diplomas,” Bennett said. “With schools like these leading the charge, we are well on our way to achieving our goal for at least 90 percent of all Indiana students to graduate from high school.”
Ten of the twelve will receive a $20,000 award and the remaining two will be given $10,000 awards. The building principal and corporation superintendent of each winning school will receive the funds and may distribute the cash awards to staff members whose work was critical to achieving the graduation rate increases. The principal may receive no more than $5,000 of the award amount.
The monetary awards were given to those high schools with the greatest increases in audited non-waiver graduation rate between 2008-2009 and 2009-2010.
Bennett added, ““In April, the Indiana General Assembly joined the movement to reward teachers for their outstanding performance in the classroom, and we are able to do the same today by rewarding these schools who helped more students earn meaningful diplomas. I applaud the students, teachers and administrators from these schools and encourage them to keep up the good work.”
The Indiana Graduation Rate Performance Incentive program is funded with cost savings created since 2009 through administrative and operational efficiencies within the Department of Education. For more information on non-waiver graduation rates, go to www.doe.in.gov/gradrate.
A compete listing of those high schools being honored included the following:
Schools receiving $20,000 each
Schools receiving $10,000 each
Medora Jr-Sr High School, Medora Community School Corp
Carol Anders Correspondent