Young people who complete high school have more college and career options, greater civic engagement and better long-term financial and health outcomes compared to those who don’t.
Increasing the number of students who graduate on time has been a national priority for decades and the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) is among the body of educators and policymakers contributing to the effort. Native students have historically had the lowest rates of graduation across racial/ethnic groups. Recently, BIE’s focus has grown to include the establishment of job training pathways for grades 9-12 and post-secondary opportunities that also contribute to tribal self-determination, sustainability and well-being.
WestEd’s new report, Native Students and High School Success: Lessons on Achieving Graduation From Five Bureau of Indian Education Schools, outlines eight promising practices that have emerged from BIE schools in Washington, Iowa, New Mexico, Oklahoma and North Dakota.
U.S. Native students’ have a graduation rate of 75 percent while the national average is 87 percent. For the 8 percent of Native students who go to BIE schools, the average rate for the past three academic years is around 60 percent, “meaning about four of 10 students at these schools do not earn a diploma, with significant consequences to themselves, their tribes, and the nation, according to BIE estimates.”
Some of the country’s 60 BIE schools, however, have had graduation rates as high as 99 percent in recent years.
“The promise of these bright spot schools is that they implement high-impact practices that may also help other BIE schools,” the report states. “By closely looking at these bright spots — schools that elevate standards and reinforce supports without lowering expectations and where Native students attain favorable graduation results — and by disseminating the insights gleaned from these schools, new learning opportunities abound for educators who are committed to boosting graduation rates.”
The schools included in the report have stronger graduation rates because they don’t have a significant rate of students dropping out. Recommended practices include:
- Creating a culture of caring to build a foundation for learning
- Leading with skill, purpose and vision
- Cultivating a qualified and supported workforce
- Centering and celebrating Indigenous identities, histories and cultures
- Designing schools to be academically, socially and personally engaging
- Providing multiple kinds of academic supports
- Preparing future-ready students
- Partnering with families and tribal members
“In describing how the bright spot schools carry out these practices, the report aims to help more BIE schools and other schools become places where students want to attend and feel supported to complete coursework, participate in extracurricular activities, and earn diplomas — and ultimately to be schools where graduation creates pathways to future success,” according to WestEd.
Learn more about these strategies in the full report.
