HELENA — St. Ignatius, Polson and Ronan and schools join 41 other Montana Graduation Matters communities that will share $88,500 to support ongoing school and community partnerships focused on ensuring more Montana students graduate from high school prepared for their futures, according to Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau.
These final Graduation Matters Montana grants are funded by AT&T and the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation. Since Superintendent Juneau launched Graduation Matters Montana, more students are graduating from high school than ever before — a record 86 percent — and Montana’s dropout rate has been cut by a third.
The 58 communities involved with Graduation Matters Montana say the program has resulted in improved school policies and practices to support students. In a recent study by Education Northwest, 93 percent of respondents surveyed said Graduation Matters Montana has had a meaningful impact on student outcomes. The same survey showed 80 percent said schools are now more connected to their communities and local businesses because of Graduation Matters Montana.