IA Has Highest H.S. Grad Rate - CBS4 - WHBF Quad Cities, IL-IA News Weather Sports

IA Has Highest H.S. Grad Rate

By Natalie Zarowny
nzarowny@cbs4qc.com

Iowa has the highest high school graduation rate in the entire country.

In 2011, 88% of Iowa high schoolers got their diploma.

And one Quad City program is a part of that success.

Mike Ator teaches a class at Davenport West that's part of the iJAG program.

"What I'm trying to do is get the kids as prepared as possible, whatever it is they might be doing," said Ator.

iJAG stands for Iowa Jobs for America's Graduates.

High school students across the state are taking iJAG classes to prepare them for what they want to do after high school, whether it's going to college or going into the workforce.

"I plan to graduate and then go to college," said Shaundra Kimbrew, a junior at Davenport West High School.

The goal is to make the transition from high school to the real world, easier.

"I knew what I wanted to do, but I didn't know how hard it was going to be and I didn't know all the stuff you had to do to prepare for college," said Christen Eaton, a senior at Davenport West High School.

For iJAG teachers, that starts with making sure students are finishing high school, and with practical skills.

"We learned how to budget today and how to create resumes for jobs," said Shaundra Kimbrew.

And their method is working.

Ator said 92 percent of iJAG students graduate high school and either enter the workforce or continue their education.

"The more and more you can get students comfortable with professional settings and professional, different aspects of the workforce, the better," said Ator.

On the other side of the river, Illinois' high school graduation rate for the class of 2011 is 84%.