Area graduation rates
Several area school districts surpassed the state average, reaching into the high 90th percentile. Area schools' graduation rates were:
• Albany: 83.3 percent
• Argyle: 90.9 percent
• Black Hawk: 97.4 percent
• Brodhead: 92.1 percent
• Darlington: 96.6 percent
• Juda: 100 percent
• Monticello: 96.4 percent
• New Glarus: 95.7 percent
• Pecatonica: 93.8 percent
Athletic conference comparison
While Monroe maintains a steady 88 to 90 percent graduation rate, it lags behind the athletic conference in graduation rates:
• Monroe: 88 percent
• Fort Atkinson: 94.2 percent
• Milton: 93.1 percent
• Monona Grove: 91.4 percent
• Oregon: 91.9 percent
• Stoughton: 95 percent
MADISON - Statistics released by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instructions (DPI) show Monroe's graduation rate is line with the state average.
In Monroe, the graduation rate has remained steady at around 88 percent over the past three school years. Other communities throughout Green and Lafayette counties also have shown the same results or better, according to the DPI.
Increasing graduation rates is "a pretty big push for Wisconsin," Monroe High School Principal Chris Medenwaldt said.
According to the DPI, the graduation rate for MHS for the 2009-10 school year was at about 71 percent. But that rate has continued to climb in the years following to 88 percent in the 2013-14 school year. The state average is 88.6 percent.According to Monroe's Director of Curriculum and Instruction Terri Montgomery, the jump in the graduation rate is because previous years included the Monroe Virtual School, an online school.
"But many of those students did not graduate," Montgomery said in an email to the Times, "and thus affected (the school district's) overall graduation rates on the state report card."
Montgomery said virtual schools have been removed from the calculations because many school districts were reporting similarly low graduation rates.
For past school year, the DPI reported the Monroe school district is meeting the state's expectations in its annual School Report Card scores in key areas such as math, reading and graduation rates.
The findings gave Monroe an
average 70 out of 100, which falls in the "meets expectations" range. The school's math scores reflect the results of the WKCE scores as the DPI gives the school district a 41 out of a possible 50, which means the school is exceeding expectations.
While the math scores soar, Monroe is failing to meet the state's expectations in closing gaps which may include economic, racial or disabilities.
As a response, the school district is paying close attention to any gap present, Medenwaldt said.
"We continue to help students try and meet their needs," he said, by providing them with as much assistance such as reduced lunches or other financial assistance needed to help students achieve in school. The DPI reports that roughly 40 percent of Monroe students are living in an economically-challenged household. The Labor Bureau of Statistics reports that more than 10 percent of Monroe residents are living below the poverty line.
Montgomery said the school district uses the Response to Intervention, or RTI, to help identify where students need help.
The RTI program, which is part of the state's Common Core implementation, allows teachers and administrator to track where students are struggling. The program allows for teachers to meet with students one-on-one for additional help.
In Monroe, the graduation rate has remained steady at around 88 percent over the past three school years. Other communities throughout Green and Lafayette counties also have shown the same results or better, according to the DPI.
Increasing graduation rates is "a pretty big push for Wisconsin," Monroe High School Principal Chris Medenwaldt said.
According to the DPI, the graduation rate for MHS for the 2009-10 school year was at about 71 percent. But that rate has continued to climb in the years following to 88 percent in the 2013-14 school year. The state average is 88.6 percent.According to Monroe's Director of Curriculum and Instruction Terri Montgomery, the jump in the graduation rate is because previous years included the Monroe Virtual School, an online school.
"But many of those students did not graduate," Montgomery said in an email to the Times, "and thus affected (the school district's) overall graduation rates on the state report card."
Montgomery said virtual schools have been removed from the calculations because many school districts were reporting similarly low graduation rates.
For past school year, the DPI reported the Monroe school district is meeting the state's expectations in its annual School Report Card scores in key areas such as math, reading and graduation rates.
The findings gave Monroe an
average 70 out of 100, which falls in the "meets expectations" range. The school's math scores reflect the results of the WKCE scores as the DPI gives the school district a 41 out of a possible 50, which means the school is exceeding expectations.
While the math scores soar, Monroe is failing to meet the state's expectations in closing gaps which may include economic, racial or disabilities.
As a response, the school district is paying close attention to any gap present, Medenwaldt said.
"We continue to help students try and meet their needs," he said, by providing them with as much assistance such as reduced lunches or other financial assistance needed to help students achieve in school. The DPI reports that roughly 40 percent of Monroe students are living in an economically-challenged household. The Labor Bureau of Statistics reports that more than 10 percent of Monroe residents are living below the poverty line.
Montgomery said the school district uses the Response to Intervention, or RTI, to help identify where students need help.
The RTI program, which is part of the state's Common Core implementation, allows teachers and administrator to track where students are struggling. The program allows for teachers to meet with students one-on-one for additional help.