WRTV: Schools Get Cash For Boosting Graduation Rates

Twelve Indiana public high schools that grew graduation rates last year were recognized with cash from the state Wednesday.

The Indiana Department of Education awarded 10 schools $20,000 each and two smaller schools $10,000 each as part of the Indiana Graduation Rate Performance Incentive.

The larger schools recognized were:

Fall Creek Academy
Argos Community Junior-Senior High School
Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School in Indianapolis
Austin High School, Scott County School District 1
Kankakee Valley High School, Kankakee Valley School Corp.
Caston Juior-Senior High School, Caston School Corp.
Rochester Community High School
Shakamak Junior-Senior High School
Mississinewa High School
Seeger Memorial Junior-Senior High School, Warren County Schools
The schools with fewer than 300 students recognized were
North White Junior-Senior High School
Medora Junior-Senior High School

The program rewards public high schools with the greatest increase in graduation rates between the last two school years.

"I am proud of all schools across the state that have increased their graduation rates, but these 12 schools shine brightest for driving dramatic increases in the number of students receiving meaningful high school diplomas," said Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett. "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."

The list of schools include two Indianapolis charter school -- Fall Creek Academy and Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School, 6News' Julie Pursley reported.

"We went from 44 percent to 80 percent in a two-year period, and that's number one in the state," said Fall Creek Academy Superintendent Kevin Teasley. "I think Fall Creek Academy has instituted a strong sense of not only graduating from high school, but also going to college."

At the Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School, there's a mural that says, "College Or Die," in an effort to encourage students to break the cycle of crime and poverty.

"We spend a lot of time with our students, not just talking about their grades, but talking about their ambitions," said Principal Marcus Robinson.

The school 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 competitive incentive program is open to all Indiana public high schools and is funded with cost savings created since 2009 through administrative and operational efficiencies within the Department of Education, Bennett said.

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