Denfeld High School reports sharp increase in Native student graduation rate
School officials credit mentoring, cultural initiatives and student support programs for gains
Denfeld High School in Duluth reported a 12-percentage-point increase in its Native American graduation rate this school year, rising to 74%, according to reporting from to MPR News. Native students make up 13% of the school's student body.
School officials attribute the gains to mentoring programs, relationship-building and culturally focused initiatives. Principal Tom Tusken said the school's Check and Connect program pairs students with mentors who monitor academic progress and provide support. The school has also launched an Indigenous cohort that incorporates cultural activities into the curriculum and displays Ojibwe language signage and the flag of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. School officials told MPR News that proposed budget reductions could result in the loss of 17 staff positions, including a counselor and a Check and Connect mentor.
- 1.Dan Kraker. MPR News, .
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