Though the Texas Education Agency won't officially release its rating until Friday afternoon, Lubbock ISD superintendent Karen Garza predicts Estacado High School won't pass with flying colors.
She's quick to point out the score is based on completion rates, not academic performance.
"There were quite a number of students that particularly dropped out of school in '07-'08," Dr. Garza says.
She adds, a variety of factors are to blame:
"If a student leaves our community and does not enroll in another school, we're responsible for them not enrolling and so that's a challenge, but it's a challenge we need to figure out and i think we have a plan that will work and prevent this from ever happening again."
That plan involves tracking students' progress more effectively, identifying problems early on and intervening when necessary.
Administrators are also restructuring programs so counselors interact with students more.
"We've actually implemented quite a number of things this past year that I believe will help us because the number one reason students often time will drop out is lack of academic success in school," Dr. Garza says.
After all, she says the top priority is helping students be successful throughout their entire LISD career -- starting at the pre-K level.
"Our goal is to ensure that we're paying attention," Dr. Garza says. "Our motto is 'every child, every day,' and that essentially is what we're working toward -- making sure that we do..."
And they could soon get help from the Feds.
Earlier this week, the district was notified of preliminary acceptance of a grant proposal, which would include funding for dropout prevention strategies.
