By Henterson Carlisle, Northwest Regional Director, Center for High School Success and Kia C. Franklin, Washington Executive Director, Stand for Children
The ninth-grade chapter of a student’s educational journey is a turning point, a make-or-break moment where success triples the likelihood of an on-time graduation. The stark reality, though, is that 30 percent of Washington’s ninth graders are navigating precarious paths. This is even more true for Black, Indigenous, and Latino students, as well as other student groups furthest from educational justice. For example, low-income students have an on-track rate of 55.5 percent compared to 84 percent for those who are not low income.
Operating amidst this complex state landscape of educational disparities is the Ninth Grade Success Initiative, a proven blueprint for fostering equitable, positive outcomes for all students, regardless of background or circumstances. Despite its successes, its future hangs in the balance as we await crucial decisions on state funding. The continuation of this program depends on strong leadership and prioritization from our legislators, who will set the state’s supplemental budget in March.
The Ninth Grade Success Initiative is a data-driven program that equips educators to improve their school ninth grade on-track (NGOT) rate, a critical metric that is tracked in every Washington state high school. With Ninth Grade Success coaching, educators keep students on track by addressing the challenges that threaten to derail students’ academic aspirations. The program stands as a beacon of hope, offering a proven approach to elevating on-track rates and bridging alarming disparities between student groups.
Funded as a pilot by the state legislature in 2019, four of the five participating pilot districts saw double-digit improvements in their ninth grade on-track (NGOT) rates. In 2021, the program was then expanded through one-time, federal pandemic relief funding allocated by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Today, the Center for High School Success supports 49 schools across Washington with the Ninth Grade Success approach.
The sweeping benefits of this dedicated approach include a more equitable school environment, more effective teacher support and retention, and increased available resources for student well-being and mental health, in addition to improvements in student graduation outcomes. Schools in Washington that participate in the Ninth Grade Success Initiative have a 79.3 percent on-track rate – higher than the state average and nearly seven percent higher than comparison schools in a formal evaluation. Participating schools have seen significant year-over-year increases in their ninth grade on-track rates.
The approach has a particular benefit to students of color and students who are furthest from educational justice, helping to close opportunity gaps. For example, Royal High School narrowed its 33-point gap in NGOT rates between White and Latino students to less than 10 points and are poised to eliminate the disparity entirely this year.
Another important result of this work is that students begin to feel they are in a place that genuinely cares about them as human beings. In many cases this could be the first time in a student’s educational career to experience a true sense of belonging. Educators and staff get to know students beyond what they see on the outside. This personal connection creates an environment of teacher-student trust, which in turn increases student attendance and performance.
Behind the numbers and stories of success are incredibly dedicated teams of educators that, if supported, can take our state to the next level of service to students. These educators are members of the community who know that the impact of this initiative extends far beyond the classroom.
But without a commitment to allocate $2.9 million in Washington’s 2024 supplemental budget to the Ninth Grade Success Initiative, ongoing efforts to support more than 13,000 students in their pivotal ninth grade year will be at risk of elimination. Education leaders agree that this cannot happen, with both the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education naming this funding as a key legislative priority for 2024.
Focusing on the success of ninth graders is the single greatest investment our state can make in increasing graduation rates and closing equity gaps, and in turn, in empowering students as they prepare for the future. Legislators must make the Ninth Grade Success Initiative a top priority in this legislative session by allocating critical funding to keep it going in 2024 and beyond.
Henterson Carlisle is a 23-year career educator and administrator and the Northwest Regional Director of the Center for High School Success, one of Washington’s only organizations focused on increasing the state’s NGOT rating through coaching and support to educators.
Kia C. Franklin is the Executive Director of Stand for Children WA and an education equity advocate dedicated to working in, with, and alongside communities to create transformative change for students.
