All 15 of Kelso High School’s seniors experiencing homelessness (McKinney-Vento students) will be graduating with their peers on Saturday, June 8. And they’re doing it with an average GPA of 3.23. One of them will also be earning their AA degree at the same time as their high school diploma.
This 100% graduation rate for 2024 Kelso High School (KHS) students experiencing homelessness beats out the 2023 grad rates of Washington State McKinney-Vento students at 60.9%, all WA students at 83.6%, and all Kelso School District students at 90.2%.
The district credits this outstanding grad rate to its Family & Community Resource Center (FCRC) and the dedicated team there. Founded in the fall of 2021, Kelso’s FCRC works to assist the whole child and whole family with a unified system of supports addressing overall health and well-being through three key areas: behavioral health, physical health, and basic needs.
Kelso’s 2024 FCRC by the numbers:
“Kelso has a long-standing goal of 100% graduation for all our students,” said Mary Beth Tack, superintendent. “To see our McKinney-Vento students overcoming the major obstacle of experiencing homelessness—in some cases doing it without a parent or caregiver—and not only stay in school, but also graduate on-time at 100% is beyond inspiring. It speaks volumes for the resiliency of our youth and the dedication and care of our Kelso team.”
Due in large part to the district’s work on closing opportunity gaps, the Kelso School Board was awarded the 2023 Medium District School Board of the Year by the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA).
About Kelso School District
Kelso School District has a goal of 100% (bit.ly/ksd-100) of students graduating high school and having post-secondary plans for college, career, trades, or military. Our mission is to prepare every student for living, learning, and achieving success as a citizen of our changing world. When we asked students and staff what makes Kelso strong, with 45 voices, there was one clear answer (bit.ly/ksd-strong).