SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (KRNV & MyNews4.com) - An area school is boasting some of the highest graduation rates in California. Newly finalized counts show about 92.5 percent of South Tahoe High School's seniors are earning diplomas. Compare that to the state average of 76.3 percent. But district officials say one of the main reasons they're claiming success has just been cut from the California budget.
The Advancement Via Individual Determination program targets B and C students to train them on things like critical thinking skills as well as note taking and boosting self-confidence. But to make up for budget shortfalls, Governor Jerry Brown has cut about $8 million in funding for the state support of the AVID program.
“It's taking too much from the kids. It's a failure of decision making and we're robbing the kids,” Superintendent James Tarwater said.
The local district vows to keep the program going without state funding, but they say there will be some trickle down with the loss of regional centers that trained avid teachers.
“That's where we get to go and collaborate, and I think with that piece missing the changes are going to be subdual but pretty profound,” AVID co-coordinator Frank Kovac said.
To see other reasons why the district thinks they have such a high graduation rate, click on the video story attached to this page.
