More also are held back to repeat the grade. If they make it through, their chances of graduating spiral upward to 85 percent. At Marion-Franklin High School, Principal Carol Harper encourages her struggling students not to focus on grade level. We want them to believe they can succeed. Everything we do is geared toward that.
Dropouts typically start as truants.
Not surprisingly, truancy is the worst in high schools. If a parent didn't like school, it's hard for them to convey the importance of it to their children. Educators target freshmen Oldham and East High Principal Henry Scott are trying to improve their numbers. East rewards regular attendance. In the fall, for example, about 150 students went to the Circleville Pumpkin Show and participated in free-turkey raffles.