AN ANALYSIS OF A PLAN TO IMPROVE THE GRADUATION RATES IN JOHNSTON COUNTY SCHOOLS

Abstract

There have been limited qualitative case studies exploring effective strategies designed to improve graduation rates in rural school districts. Specifically, few studies have presented information based solely upon the voices of practitioners themselves in solving the graduation crisis in America’s public schools. This study will add to the existing literature by presenting data generated from within a large, rural school district in eastern North Carolina. This qualitative study utilized the Critical Incident Case Study Model as the tool to produce data from surveys and interviews with principals, graduation coaches, and Student Services personnel in the Johnston County Schools concerning information pertinent to improving cohort graduation rates within the school district to 90%. Qualitative research designs that utilize case studies afford the researcher an in-depth study of an individual group, institution, organization or program. Specifically, this study will examine responses from interviews and surveys concerning stakeholder views on strategies to improve graduation rates to 90% within the district in the effort of merging those proven strategies into a Graduation Improvement Plan for the district. The analysis of data will help in creating a Graduation Improvement Plan for the district with strategies aimed at aiding and assisting at risk students in elementary, middle, and high school.