Zero High School Dropouts Last Year in Windham

If New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch wants to reach his goal of zero high school dropouts in the state by the 2012-2013 school year, he might want to look at Windham High School as a barometer.

WHS was one of 14 schools in New Hampshire during the 2010-2011 school year that didn't register a single dropout, according to a release from Virginia M. Barry, the state's Education Commissioner.

Five of those high schools – Mascenic, Hinsdale, Pittsburg, Sunapee and the Academy for Science and Design Charter – have reported zero dropouts for two consecutive years.

The eight other schools with zero dropouts for just last year were Colebrook, Gorham, Hopkinton, Linwood, Oyster River, Belmont, Cocheco Arts and Technology Charter Academy and the Virtual Learning Academy Charter.

The annual report said that the dropout rate for last year was 1.19 percent in the state, a slight increase from the previous year's 0.97 percent. Barry said that New Hampshire still continues to have one of the lowest dropout rates in the country despite the small percentage climb.

Barry also said in her release that the cohort graduation rate is up almost 1 percent from two years ago.

"This is clear evidence that our dropout prevention prorams, put in place to complement the increase in the state's compulsory attendance age are in fact working," said Barry.

This is the first year that Windham has had a full high school, with the 2012 senior class being the first in school history.

WHS Principal Tom Murphy during a school board meeting.

During the December meeting, Murphy explained how next year's courses were selected with the help of student input, keeping kids active in the process.

For the complete list of early exit and dropout rates for 2010-2011, including definition and calculation methods, click here.

For more information about the dropout prevention programs contact Paul Leather at (603)-271-3801 or Paul.Leather@doe.nh.gov.