Education

Graduation Matters program brings $10,000 to Billings schools

Posted: Mar 20, 2012 9:41 PM by Q2 Staff

BILLINGS - Graduation is right around the corner for many area seniors; but what about the students are not graduating?

Montana Education Secretary, Denise Juneau, was in Billings today, promoting her program: Graduation Matters Montana. The program aims to cut the dropout rate in Montana in half by 2014.

Juneau came bearing a $10,000 grant for Billings schools to use for this program. Juneau also visited Hardin and Libby with similar grants. The program is taylored for specific areas, looking at rural verses urban, and other factors.

In 2011, the state's graduation rate was 82% - up from 80% in 2010. Billings West High's 2011 graduation rate was 82%. Skyview's was 79%, and Billings Senior High's was 73%.