Points of Pride

• During the 24/25 school year, students at the DC Student Support Center reduced chronic absenteeism on average by 28% and earned an average of 3.57 credits per term. 
   
• Student: "I am overall happier, understand more about my mental health and why trying in school is important. I feel capable of doing whatever I want to do. At other schools I left inferior and here I felt like I could succeed. I am more motivated, and my whole outlook on life is different. Finally able to be a ‘kid’ again after going through so much and having to grow up fast. Me from last year has been able to heal and not be so disconnected from myself and others."
   
• Student: “My mindset has been flipped. Little things we learned on procrastination, essential skills, made me realize I can change my ways and get help, and that only I am in control of changing habits and myself. School has never been for me, but I know when I am doing what I want, I will be able to take everything I learned and apply it. Once I am gone from here, I can carry on what I learned here so I don't get behind.” 
   
• Student: “Staff wise-I have never had staff that I connect with this much at any other school. I feel comfortable asking questions and motivated to put in the work because I know they genuinely care and I don't want to disappoint them. The people here helped me get out of my shell and be able to talk to people again.”
   
• Student: “I have higher self esteem and higher confidence. I have more motivation to do things. Instead of saying ‘I don't want to do that’ I think more ‘I'm already doing it, why not follow through’. I used to be a pushover a little bit, and apologized often. Now I am more assertive and understand what I want and why I want it.”
   
• Parent: "Thank you so much for all of your hard work and attention to S. It's been such a humbling experience to see S. turn his life around, it has been so monumental.  Our family appreciates all of you so very much!"
   
• Parent: “We just wanted to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU, to everyone at Support. This was exactly the boost C needed to be able to see what we knew she was capable of all along. Not only are we super proud of her, but she’s proud of herself!  She’s more confident, happy and excited for her senior year!  I truly hope you all know what an amazing program you have, and we can’t thank you enough for the impact you made on C.”
   

New services were provided for students returning to their home high schools after completing the DC Student Support Center Program. During the 2024-2025 school year, student outcomes improved in attendance and decreased in the number of behavior incidents.

• Home High School attendance increased by an average of 14.7%. (Chronic Absenteeism is  <10%)
   
• The starting range of the number of student behavior incidents was 0 - 5.75 behaviors per student, per quarter. After returning to the home high school, behavior incidents ranged from 0 to 1 new behaviors for the entire remainder of the school year. Students had significantly less behavior incidents upon returning to their home school which extended beyond the quarter they returned.
  • Example:  Student A, a junior, had 23 behavior incidents prior to attending the support center (averaging about 2.875 behavior incidents per quarter). Since returning to their home high school, they have had 0 new behavior incidents. 

• As of the start of the 23/24 SY, since starting in 2020, the Dropout Intervention Program, in collaboration with the GED Center, DC Support, and Alternative Education, has supported 490 students with successfully completing their education via diploma or GED, or remaining in school through their home high school or alternative education enrollment. 
   
• Parent: “I wanted to reach out to you and let you know how proud we are of A.  She did it!  She managed to take a full load and then some her senior year, she has more A's than anything and is walking in graduation this week.  I could not be more proud of her and her accomplishments.  Thanks for all the support from everyone.  Could not have done it without your help.  She is your SUCCESS story.” 

• Since Save our Seniors began in 2020, 118 more seniors have been able to graduate and earn their diploma from Douglas County School District.
   
• Our program boasts an overall success rate of 80%, with an overall timely completion (finishing all graduation requirements within one semester) rate of 70%
   
• Parent: “I want to share my sincere gratitude and appreciation for the SOS program and your work with J. This has definitely made all the difference between J graduating or not graduating. He definitely has been holding his head high and proud to say he graduated from HS. I can only imagine how different it would be if he didn’t. I know him well enough to know that he would have been ashamed and embarrassed if he didn’t. I believe that sticks with someone for many years and would play a role in his thinking less in his abilities going forward. I’m forever grateful that he won’t have those thoughts in his future and he can confidently say he graduated. This has meant more that you all may realize. What an amazing program and care for those kids who don’t fit the traditional mold...what you all do matters! It matters to the students and the families of those students who struggle quietly behind their kiddo.” 
   
• Parent: “This program is an amazing thing you offer for seniors who just need something a little different to help them succeed.”

• School staff reported that 79.7% of students’ improved their engagement with school following a home visit and the presentation of a gift bag of goodies and school supplies provided to families through our partnership with the Parker Task Force.
   
• Parent: “I am totally blown away that you showed up at my house to check on my son today. You are awesome! We talked and I feel like we got a little bit closer with where we need him to be. Thank you again, and I am truly grateful.”

• Since opening in April of 2018, over 320 students have received their GED through the DCSD GED Center. 
   
• In the 24-25 school year, GED students have improved their scores by an average of 14 points through tutoring.
   
• GED Parent: “I just want to sincerely thank you all for your support with my daughter in this journey! So proud of all she is overcoming and all the steps she is taking for her future! I know many of you have sat in meetings over these past two years with us and I cannot tell you enough how grateful I am for all the support that is in place to support students like her who may have a different path!”

• During the 24-25 school year, expelled students attended nearly 200 one-on-one tutoring sessions with academic tutors.
   
• During the 24-25 school year, expelled students attended tutoring with an attendance rate of 79%.

• Before intervention, chronic absenteeism rates in the district were 47.5%.  After implementing on-site intervention meetings with a re-engagement specialist, the rates decreased to 25% for the 24/25 school year.
   
• During the 24/25 school year, the district has seen a decrease in court referrals.  Our goal is to continue reducing these referrals by implementing early interventions at the school level, aiming to address attendance issues proactively and prevent cases from escalating to truancy court.

• Since 2021, Schools have had access to prioritized reports that provide regular access to chronic absence data, enabling them to understand and address attendance trends promptly.
   
• In August 2024, school administrators and attendance staff received professional development focusing on best practices related to attendance. This initiative aimed to equip schools with practical strategies for addressing attendance issues.
   
• In August 2024, school staff saw enhanced functionality of Infinite Campus, which improved the accuracy of attendance data and ensured compliance with Colorado Department of Education (CDE) standards.