7/2/2009 - Redmond
by Matt McDonald
 
By state measures, AnneMarie Myers is part of the 52% of Redmond High School students who failed to graduate.
 
"I don't think I failed, I feel like it's an opportunity because I do get free college, most students don't get that experience," said Myers.
 
She is part of the advance degree program, staying an extra year at Redmond High School to earn college credits. Under a new system for determining graduation rates, she didn't make it in time.
 
"The U.S. Department of Education has basically decided that four years is the amount of time that students should have to graduate," explains Susanne Smith, a public affairs representative for the Oregon Department of Education.
 
There are around one hundred twenty students like Myers in Redmond's advance degree program each year. The school district says not counting those students explains the drop at Redmond High school from an 88% graduation rate to 48%. Overall the district wide rate is worse at 44%.
 
Students haven't noticed half their peers not making it through. Their first hand impression of graduation rates...
 
"Well I'd say, you know, somewhere around 85% to 90% I thought it was pretty high," said Jordon Walker, soon to be a junior at Redmond High.
 
There is reason for the school district to be concerned. Graduation rates are part of a formula for federal funding.
 
"If a school has less than 68.1% of their students graduating then...that funding could affect, be affected," said Smith.
 
Changes to funding take years, perhaps time to iron out how graduates are counted. Though never counted, by then, Myers will have moved on.
 
"Hopefully go to the U of O or Portland State," said Myers.