ST. PETER, MINN. -
The bar has been raised for high school graduation rates in Minnesota. The governor's office Wednesday announces the state is joining a national effort to boost graduation rates to 90 percent by 2020.
Right now 23 percent of public school students in MN do not graduate from high school in four years. The Dayton administration wants that number to be 10 percent or less.
St. Peter principal Paul Peterson says, "Certainly graduation is very important and I know that the state has been working on that."
Peterson says it's lofty, but attainable goal. He knows that because St. Peter has already passed that 90% bench mark.
Peterson says, "We have worked hard over the past few years to make sure or numbers stay step and we are not just getting kids through high school but making sure that they are prepared for the next level."
Last year 93% of St. Peter seniors graduated, the principal says the work started long before their senior year.
Peterson says, "Keeping that graduation goal in mind even as early as the elementary years that graduation is something that everybody is going to work towards, everybody can attain and putting that challenge out in a positive way."
The states effort will be tied to proposals aimed at reducing the state's achievement gap between white students and students of color. While St. Peter has already reached the goal, Peterson says they will continue to work to bump up their number.
Peterson says, "We are proud to have that 93% graduation rate, but what that means is we are still falling short, we have 7% of our students that we need to find creative ways to provide high riot high relevancy programming."
The governor's office says in order to increase rates, we must continue investing in our schools and opening doors of opportunity for every child.
