Traditional public schools serve the majority of Ohio’s students, but they aren’t the right fit for everyone.
Dropout Prevention and Recovery Schools (DOPR) are public community schools designed for students who are at risk of not graduating or who have already left school and want to return. These schools focus on helping students — typically ages 14 to 21 — who are behind in credits or need a learning environment different from a traditional high school.
Representatives from these schools said they provide flexible learning environments and more individualized support for students who struggle to succeed in a traditional school setting.
Richland County has three DOPRs — Cypress High School, Buckeye Community School and GOAL Digital Academy.
Each of them met or exceeded state standards on this year’s round of Ohio School Report Cards.
What makes up a DOPR report card?
DOPR report cards consist of four components.
Achievement measures the percentage of grade 12 students and students who are within three months of aging out of the K-12 system who have met the competency requirements for graduation on the English Language Arts II and Algebra I (or Integrated Mathematics I) end-of-course tests.
Progress evaluates student growth using the results of the Renaissance Star Reading and Star Mathematics assessments and compares students’ actual progress to expected progress, regardless of their initial achievement level. Points are awarded based on how well students meet or exceed expected growth.
Gap Closing shows how well schools are meeting the performance expectations for students in different racial and ethnic groups, as well as students who come from economically disadvantaged households, students with disabilities and English learners.
Graduation looks at the percentage of students who are successfully finishing high school with a diploma in four, five, six, seven, or eight years.
DOPR report cards are scored differently than traditional public school report cards. While the components (achievement, progress, graduation rates) of a DOPR report card are similar, the metrics for meeting or exceeding expectations are different.
Cypress High School
Cypress High School (1160 West Fourth Street, Ontario) exceeded state standards overall. The school exceeded standards in achievement and graduation rate and met them in progress and gap closing.
The school had an enrollment of 234 students and a four-year graduation rate of 83.7 percent.
“We still have areas to improve, but I think these results show that our staff is working hard to help students succeed,” Director Chioke Bradley said. “One area we want to improve is student academic progress.
“Our report card shows that we meet standards in Progress, and we want to continue building on that.”
Cypress serves students in grades 9 to 12 and accepts students through age 21. Bradley said he thinks one of the school’s biggest strengths is its individualized approach and the relationships staff build with students.
“We understand that every student has different needs, and we try to meet them where they are. We offer flexible scheduling and career-technical opportunities to help students stay on track and prepare for their future,” he said.
“I think it’s important to remember that a report card doesn’t tell the whole story. Our students come from different backgrounds and face different challenges, and we work hard to help each of them succeed.”
Buckeye Community School
Buckeye Community School (1404 Park Avenue West, Mansfield) met standards in achievement and gap closing and exceeded them in graduation rate. It did not meet them state standards for progress.
The school had an enrollment of 586 high school students and a four year graduation rate of 46.3 percent.
Shawn Bailey, the school’s director of marketing and communication, said Buckeye staff are proud of the difference the school makes in students’ lives.
“We know that success looks different for every student, and we celebrate the progress they make, whether it is recovering credits, improving attendance, earning a credential, or receiving a diploma,” he said.
“Buckeye is not a traditional school, and many of our students have taken a different path to get to where they are today. Our job is to help them get back on track, recover credits, and move toward a productive future.”
Bailey said the school report card provides administrators with valuable information, but it doesn’t tell the whole story.
“It doesn’t show every challenge a student has faced, how far they have come, or the extra support it sometimes takes to help them succeed,” Bailey said. “We take the results seriously and use them to find ways to improve, but we also believe it is important to recognize the progress our students make and the work our staff does every day to help them get to that productive future.”
GOAL Digital Academy
GOAL Digital Academy (890 West Fourth Street, Mansfield) offers a blended learning model, with online education and in-person support at “learning labs” across central state, including at its headquarters on Fourth Street in Mansfield.
The school exceeded state standards overall, with high marks in gap closing, progress and graduation rate. GOAL Digital Academy also met state standards in achievement.
“School report cards are an important measure of progress, but they don’t always tell the whole story,” said Casey Clark, the school’s director of communications. “Many GOAL students come to us seeking a different educational experience or additional support to get back on track.”
“Among Ohio’s 10 largest dropout prevention and recovery schools, GOAL was one of only three to earn an overall Exceeds Standards rating. We’re proud of that accomplishment,” Clark added.
School administrators said they are using student performance data to identify areas for improvement, strengthen instructional practices, and provide targeted support.
The school had an enrollment of 820 students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The school had a four-year high school graduation rate of 64.8 percent.
