Vermilion Parish School District has steadily increased its graduation rate over the past two years.

School officials are continuing to see an increase in the numbers.

The school district is celebrating the fact that they’ve had more students graduate than they’ve every had graduate before.

Director of School Leadership with Vermilion Parish School District, Kimberly Etie, said, “As these scores and these numbers come in to our district, we dissect them, we analyze them. I think that something that’s very unique for Vermilion is that all of us, when we look at these numbers, they are not numbers, they are kids. Our children are more than a number.”

Etie said graduation rates for Vermilion Parish School District increased last year.

“Our performance of our students increased this year, so Vermilion is number four in the state right now, and so with increases, we only hope to increase that ranking again this year,” explained Etie.

High School Supervisor with Vermilion Parish School District, Christina Menard, added, “I think one of the things that’s happening is we have more students who are getting dual enrollment credit than ever before. Our district pays for any student who qualifies to receive 12 hours of dual enrollment credit. I think that’s a very important thing that’s helping to increase our grad rate.”

According to Etie, factors that contribute to increased graduation rates include better student performance in elementary and middle schools, leading up to high school.

“Our teachers are better prepared,” said Etie. “Our students are receiving the curriculums that talk the same language as they progress throughout 12 years of school so all of those things in place are definitely going to make a student much more prepared to graduate.”

“When you think about what it means to the child for the quality of life of that student, they’re going to be able to do more because they have that high school diploma, and we are so proud of our kids and our schools for what they’re doing with our kids,” said Menard.

Etie said the percentage of Vermilion Parish 2018 graduates is just over 95 percent. This year’s graduation rate for the district will be released next year.

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