FILE: A crowded hallway at Ron Russell Middle School in between classes in December 2019.
Elizabeth Miller, Elizabeth Miller / OPB
Last week, we introduced you to OPB’s Class of 2025 project, where we are following a class of kindergarteners on their journey all the way through high school. The idea stems from a goal Oregon set more than a decade ago – a 100% high school graduation rate by 2025.
As the Class of 2025 has grown, so has Oregon. That once tall order of a 100% high school graduation rate is no longer the goal. Oregon’s new governor Tina Kotek has another goal in mind: 90% high school graduation rate by 2027.
This week, we want to ask some of the tough questions raised by the reporting OPB has done over the last decade with this project. The biggest ones: Why is Oregon’s graduation rate still lower than other states, even after focusing on improving it all these years? And maybe more broadly - is even trying to get to 100 percent the right goal? If it’s not, what is? Education reporter Elizabeth Miller is back with us this week to help answer these questions.
Listen to all episodes of The Evergreen podcast here.