Oregon-Davis School celebrates 100% graduation rate two years in a row

HAMLET, Ind. -- For the second year in a row, Oregon-Davis high school will have a 100% graduation rate.

After previously having a graduation rate between the 80th and 90th percentile, what changed?

Back-to-back years of a perfect graduation rate is reason to be proud, and the staff at Oregon-Davis sure is.

Principal Emily White tells me it's critical to make sure each student gets the proper learning experience needed so they can toss that graduation cap in the air at the end of the school year.

"It's getting the right people in the right places, and that individualized attention, when you have 30 to 35 upwards to 40, you can meet with them daily, weekly, whatever is needed, and it goes along with making sure those staff know the parameters surrounding the graduation and getting an early jump on those if a student needs extra help," said Emily White, Oregon-Davis principal.

But it's not just Emily White, it takes a village.

The school counselor knows how to spot a student who might not be heading down that graduation path, and how to help them right the ship before it's too late.

"I'm always looking at where they're at as far as credits, what's going on in their life, just paying attention to the trends of their grades and if I notice something's different, I have them come down, and we talk, and we see what's going on. I try to talk to them and encourage them that it might be challenging, it might be difficult, but they're not alone, and I let them know exactly what they need to do," said Sonia Hensley, Oregon-Davis school counselor.

Hensley shared a story about a former student who nearly missed out on graduating, but she made sure he received personal attention, and she still thinks of that student to this day.

Oregon-Davis superintendent Bill Bennett expressed his gratitude for the staff.

"I think this is one of the things that makes a small rural school really special, each kid is known by their name, they've had years of relationships, the staff, the guidance counselors and principals working together in unison, it just says a lot of our small caring community, and I couldn't be prouder," said Bennett.

Of those perfect graduating classes, the class of 2024 had 31 graduates, and the class of 2025 had 30. This year, the senior class has 31 students, and they hope to make this a three-peat.