Jan. 30, 2025 / Four high schools in the Klamath County School District had graduation rates above 94% percent in 2024, and two of those – Lost River Junior/Senior High School and Bonanza Junior/Senior High School – had perfect graduation rates of 100%.
Henley High School at 99.2% continued its multi-year trend of graduation rates above 97% percent, and Mazama High School’s graduate rate of 94.6% is a significant 6.2 percentage point increase from 2023.
Chiloquin Junior/Senior High at 86.7% saw a 3.8 percentage point decrease from last year. Gilchrist Junior/Senior High School saw a more than 20 percentage point drop from 2023, with a 69.2% graduate rate. Both schools had graduation rates above 90% in 2023. Schools with small cohorts can see large fluctuations in percentages from year to year.
Lost River Principal Jana Dunlea credited the hard work of students and commitment of staff and families to the school’s 100% graduation rate. From 2019 to 2022, Lost River graduated 100% of its seniors. Last year, the rate dropped to 91.7% before increasing again this year.
“It is exciting when our kids are successful,” she said. “We have high academic standards and expect students to earn their diploma, so when 100% of them meet that mark that’s pretty great.”
This is the second year in a row Bonanza has graduated 100% of its cohort.
Bonanza Principal Jordan Osborn said the systems the school’s leadership team put in place six years ago to improve culture and academics are paying off.
“I am just really proud of the Bonanza students and staff,” he said. “Our entire staff are true champions for every kid that walks through our halls. In return, the students rise and meet the challenge. I am extremely proud of all of them.”
A districtwide look
Overall, the county school district’s four-year graduation rate in 2024 was 82.5 percent, up 2.6 percentage points from the year before and 0.7 percentage points above the state average of 81.8%, according to data released Jan. 30 by the Oregon Department of Education. The district’s overall rate finally caught up with and surpassed its 2019 rate of 82.37%, which was recorded before the pandemic caused widespread school closures and a shift to online learning.
KCSD Superintendent Glen Szymoniak said district schools with high graduation rates share a commitment to accountability, from administrators and teachers to students and parents.
“When examining graduation rate data for each school and the district, it’s important to recognize the story behind the numbers,” he said. “Schools with impressive graduation rates share key common factors. Their administration and staff set exceptionally high expectations for themselves, working collaboratively to meet the needs of every student. They deliver rigorous instruction and hold students to high standards, fostering an environment where success is the norm … Achieving a 100% graduation rate sends a powerful message: success is possible for every student when the right support structures are in place.”
KCSD’s rate includes Falcon Heights, an alternative high school for students who are behind on credits and at risk of dropping out. Falcon Heights, though tracking in at lower overall on-time graduation rates than the county’s six traditional high schools, has seen consistent increases over the past five years – from 29.49% in 2019 to 50.7% in 2024. Falcon Heights had a five-year completer rate of 70.7%, which includes students from the class of 2023 who earned an extended diploma or GED in 2024.
Lost River’s Dunlea credits the program at Falcon Heights for the overall increase in graduation rates districtwide and for helping students at Lost River.
“There was a time when students who were going through adversity or didn’t fit in at a traditional high school, didn’t have any choice but to drop out,” she said. “Now Falcon Heights gives those students a place and helps them get their diploma. Lost River’s 100% graduation rate is only possible because kids aren’t dropping out. Falcon gives them that opportunity. They have a place to go that allows them to be successful and get that same diploma.”
Szymoniak also shined a spotlight on Falcon Heights, crediting its leadership and staff, who are specially trained in trauma-informed instruction, for successfully serving students who struggle in traditional high schools.
“They provide individualized support, ensuring that every student reaches graduation, no matter how long it takes,” he said. “By helping students who might have otherwise dropped out, Falcon Heights not only transforms lives but also strengthens the overall graduation rates of our district.”
Graduates who earn GEDs or extended diplomas do not factor into the on-time four-year graduation rate, but instead are considered completers. The district’s 2024 four-year completer rate was 85.4%, a percentage point increase from 2023, and the five-year completer rate for 2024 was 88.3%.
Jeff Bullock, the district’s school improvement and secondary programs director, was pleased that the district’s graduation rates returned to and are exceeding pre-pandemic levels.
“This is a significant accomplishment, and I am very proud of our district team and the work of our students and families,” he said. “Our four-year graduation exceeds the state average for the first time in several years, demonstrating the consistent efforts of everyone involved.”
The district will continue its focus on academic rigor, CTE (career and technical education) and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs, student engagement, and meaningful relationships, Bullock said, adding: “Congratulations to the Class of 2024, and let’s keep it up Class of 2025.”
