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Press Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Tina McGovern 415-749-3600 ext. 19, outreach@gatewayhigh.org
Gateway Keeps Kids in School-Ranked 2nd of 23 High Schools in City
July 18th, 2008
For Immediate Release
Contact: Tina McGovern, 415-749-3600 x 19 tmcgovern@gatewayhigh.org
Alarming Statistics on High School Drop Out Rates Released
Gateway Keeps Kids in School Ranked 2nd of 23 High Schools
<< San Francisco, CA July 18, 2008 Press Release
This week the state Department of Education released shocking new drop out statistics statewide. Using a new student tracking system, the state calculated a staggering statewide dropout rate of 24 percent or nearly 1 in 4 high school freshmen would never finish school.
"Today, we have the tools for the first time to report the rates with a much greater degree of accuracy than in the past," Superintendent O'Connell said.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle today, The new report shows that 42 percent of black students and 30 percent of Latinos quit high school last year- far more than the state average, and far more than state officials had thought.
Despite the alarming statistics, Gateway is a model program. Of the 23 San Francisco high schools listed in the report, statistics show Gateway at 4.4% ranked second only to Lowell (1%) as having the lowest drop out rates in the City.
Dave Iverson, host of KQED's Forum invited principal Sharon Olken to join a panel discussion about the report because Gateway is a unique bright spot in an otherwise dismal report. When host Iverson asked Principal Sharon Olken to share the reasons why Gateway students stay in school, she cited three key reasons for this success: We believe that in order to be successful, kids must be known well through small class size; we provide lots of support for kids on site including mental health, college counseling, and we have a well trained staff of teachers who offer class work that is interesting, relevant, and real world so that kids want to be there. When kids and families are known well and you understand what motivates the students, you have a much better chance of keeping them in school.
http://www.kqed.org/epArchive/R807180900?itemMD5=13bed113752c2df25f32f251535e45eb
About Gateway High School
Gateway is a San Francisco public charter high school whose mission is to provide a high quality college preparatory education to a wide range of learners.
Gateway was founded by a group of parents and educators who believed there was a need in the Bay Area for a smaller, personalized, college preparatory public high school with a commitment to and expertise in serving a diverse student population, including a significant number of students with learning differences. Gateway was one of only two San Francisco Unified District High Schools to receive the California Distinguished School award in 2007. This year Gateway celebrates its 10th year of operation and is now widely considered a model for what public education can and should be. Gateway is at full enrollment with 436 students in grades 9-12. Gateway has a learning disabled population of 25%, two and one-half times the level found in the typical American high school. Gateway has demonstrated that students from California's urban areas can be challenged and supported in their desire to receive a quality public education and motivated to pursue an education beyond high school.
For more information, contact Gateway High School at 415-749-3600 x 19 www.gatewayhigh.org
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