Student Recovery Program

Four years ago, 25 percent of ninth graders at Greeley Central High School were flunking out. The biggest group of dropouts was Hispanic men--of the 100 kids who flunked out in 2007, 80 fell into that category.That rate was unacceptable to principal Mark Cousins. He wanted a plan to turn things around. And the Student Recovery Program was created. Geared only toward boys, many of them Hispanic, this was the last-gasp effort to turn around a trend. Fast-forward to May 2011. Twenty-two of the 27 boys that started in the program donned cap and gown for graduation exercises. How did they do it? The program starts with an intensive summer immersion where the students use a computer-based learning program to fill in the gaps that derailed their education in the first place. Once back in school, they are mentored and guided by a team of specialists. And, they spend a good portion of the school week together, where intense bonds form between students and teachers. 

GRANT DETAIL

$25,000 recommended by El Pomar Foundation's North Regional Council

DID YOU KNOW?

The high school graduation rate in the state of Colorado is 74.6 percent. The Student Recovery Program graduation rate is 81.5 percent.