The drop out rate for the local school district has been dropping since 2010, with programs like the Kenai Alternative School encourage students to reach graduation.
The average rate from 2007-201 was 4.3%, but the District reports that last year’s drop out rate was down to 2.8%.
Kenai Alternative Seniors Duke Hardcastle and Isaiah Metcalf say the school gave them the drive and opportunity to reach graduation on time…
Hardcastle: “It’s really a good social place, you can be yourself there, there’s not a whole lot of judgmental kids, everyone gets along really great together, there’s no clique of people that just hang out with each other. Everyone’s bonded, it’s really like a family.
Metcalf: “I would say the most significant difference between the Alternative and other high schools is the small number of people that there are and everybody coming from different backgrounds, but all having some of the same struggles. It really makes a difference and everybody’s there for each other, including the staff. We all understand that we’re there for a reason and our goal was to graduate, most of us on time, some of us even ahead of time.”
Principal Loren Reese said it’s the focus on building relationships which helps students reach graduation…
Reese: “We have the breakfast crew that’s been there for 15 years, that includes people who served in WWII, people who are retired educators, people who work in the hospital, work in the oil industry, donate their time, their resources, their energy just to come in and help out.”
The school has 50 seniors right now, but registers as many as 85 seniors, depending on the rotation. It’s the “rotations” which enable students to catch up on missed classes; the 7-week intensive courses kept Metcalf on track…
Metcalf: “I didn’t register my sophomore year because of custody issues. I live on my own now, I work a full time job, and because of the rotation, only half of a year has allowed me to catch up an entire year’s worth. Between the classes and doing independent studies that are offered at the Kenai Alternative, so with motivation, I’ve been allowed to graduate on time.”
Metcalf says he wants to stay close to home and is looking for a local job in the oil industry. He’s already been offered a $10,000 non-destructive weld testing scholarship. Hardcastle plans to move to Austin, Texas and study filmmaking and become an action sports filmer.
