In addition to a hike in overall graduation rates within the district measured between 2012 and 2017, Albert Lea Area Schools saw an increase in rates for specific student subgroups.

These increases were present in graduation rates for special education students, English learner students, Hispanic students and students eligible for free and reduced meals.

District Superintendent Mike Funk said he saw some potential impetuses for these increased rates stemming from positive school staffing decisions, curriculum changes within the special education program and more student pathways following the institution of the Pathways program in 2014.

“We’re adjusting what we’re doing to meet the needs of the individual students rather than just a one-size-catch-all approach to everybody,” Funk said.

Albert Lea High School Principal Mark Grossklaus also gave some credit to the credit recovery program with the Area Learning Center, which he said helps students catch up if they are falling behind.

The overall graduation growth for the Albert Lea district, which includes Albert Lea High School, the Area Learning Center and the Transitions program, was by 13.2 percent, bumping the 2012 rate of 67.2 percent to the 80.4 percent as measured in 2017. The state’s average graduation rate for all students was 82.7 percent in 2017.

Each of the demographics — special education students, English learner students, Hispanic students and students eligible for free and reduced meals — showed graduation rate percentages growing by over 20 percent within the Albert Lea district, with the highest — a graduation rate increase by 35.2 percent from 2012 to 2017 — coming in for English learner students.

In each of these measured populations, while the percentage growth may be higher than state averages, the final percentage of students graduating within these demographics clock in at close to the state averages for 2017 graduation rates in each category.

According to Funk, it’s not a direct comparison between the two. The state of Minnesota as a whole has different demographics than Albert Lea Area Schools.

“We’re not comparing apples to apples here,” Funk said.

According to Funk, Albert Lea’s demographics are more in line with fellow Big Nine Conference districts Austin and Faribault. According to data provided by the Minnesota Department of Education, the state’s 2018 enrollment for free and reduced meals is 37.2 percent. Austin’s district is at 56.3 percent, Faribault at 62.6 percent and Albert Lea at 50.4 percent. Albert Lea’s English learner population is smaller than the state’s by 10.5 percent, and the district’s percentage of students enrolled in special education is 2.3 percent higher than the state.

In these three areas specifically, Albert Lea’s graduation rate grew more than both Austin’s and Faribault’s.

Funk said from the data, he is most pleased with seeing significant growth in subgroups throughout the district.

“Our growth across the board in all these things has been tremendous,” he said.

Both the Albert Lea district and the state of Minnesota have set the same goal for themselves moving ahead: a 90-percent all-student graduation rate. The difference is the state has set a time limit on theirs: According to a press release from the Minnesota Department of Education, 90 percent of Minnesota students will graduate in four years by 2020. The district has not put parameters on timing.

Funk said the state’s graduation rate goal did not influence the district’s.

Looking ahead, the rate increase suggests that within programming, the district is moving in the right direction, Funk said. Nonetheless, there’s still room for growth.

“Are we where we need to be?” Funk said. “No, we’re not. But, you know — I’m pleased with the results, but, you know, I’m not satisfied, as we want all our kids graduating in four years.”

These numbers also come after the state has made changes in the way it calculates graduation rates. The state Department of Education adjusted the data from 2012 through 2017 to fit the new way it is calculating graduation rates. Funk said he did not see these changes heavily impact reported rates in the Albert Lea district.

Gov. Mark Dayton also weighed in on the state’s graduation rate growth Tuesday.

“I congratulate Minnesota’s students, teachers, administrators and parents for their tremendous achievements,” he said in a press release. “The report is great news for our students, who are completing their high school educations better prepared for college and career training than ever before.”

Although Grossklaus said he is also happy with the graduation rate increase, there is still some ground to cover in the district.

“We’re still missing kids,” he said. “We’re not at 100 percent of our kids. … We have to keep striving for that.”

State Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius echoed his statement in an earlier press release.

“While our graduation rates have continued to climb and gaps are narrowing, we have too many students who are not receiving a diploma,” Cassellius said. “We have so much more work to do to ensure all children have equitable opportunities and receive the support they need in order to graduate on time and ready for life.”