2024 Pendleton School District Graduation Rates
PSD has much to celebrate in recently released graduation rates.
On Thursday, January 30, 2025, the Oregon Department of Education released the graduation cohort and dropout data for all public school districts in Oregon. The Pendleton School District results are very strong, with a couple of very specific areas needing improvement.
The four-year cohort graduation rates are calculated by following students from the fall of their first year in high school to the end of their fourth year. This tells us the percentage of those students who graduated within four years. The Pendleton School District graduation rates represent a combination of all students who attended Pendleton High School, Hawthorne High School, and Nixyaawii Community School.
This year’s four-year cohort is made up of the students who first entered high school in the fall of 2020. This is important to note since these students started high school 100% online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There has been much to overcome for these students and many challenges our staff have faced head-on to ensure these students graduate. We celebrate the successes of these students and staff and thank them for their efforts.
The Pendleton School District’s four-year cohort rate is 83.2%. This is a 6.5% increase from the year before and almost 2% higher than the state average.
We have listed areas to celebrate success and a few areas of improvement. Areas of success:
- 5% increase in general graduation rate
- 2% increase in Hispanic student graduation rate
- 2% increase in students w/disabilities graduation rate
- 7% increase in 4-year completion rate
- No “gap” between general population and Native American students or between white students and Native American students
- Student dropout rate lowered by 1% to 3.8% as compared to previous year
- Exceeded state average in every area except dropout rate and 5-year completion rate
Areas of improvement:
- A graduation rate of 83.2%, although an increase from the previous year, is still much lower than our goal to help all students
- Our 5 year completion rate is 3% lower than state average (83.7%). This is much lower than the goal of helping all students receive a diploma, certificate or
We also look at specific school rates as we celebrate successes and try to replicate them in all schools. The Pendleton High School rates increased in nearly every area and exceeds the state average in every area. PHS’s outstanding graduation rates are a great tribute to the many hours of hard work our staff and community invest in our students.
The Pendleton High School four-year cohort rate is 88.8%. This is a 4.9% increase from the year before and 7% higher than the state average.
Areas of success:
- Dropout rate lowered from 3.16% to 9%
- Virtually no gap between Native American students and the general student population (1.3% difference)
- Graduation rate for students with disabilities increased by 2.3% to 2%
- Exceeds state average in all areas
Areas of improvement:
- Graduation “gaps” still exist between some student groups and the general student graduation rate
- 5-year completion rate, although higher than state average, is still an area to improve upon to ensure the success of all students
The Hawthorne High School four-year cohort rate is 55%. This is a 10.3% increase from the year before and almost 27% higher than five years ago.
Areas of success:
- 4-year completion rate of 72.5%, highest ever achieved for Hawthorne
- 5-year completion rate at 69.1%, highest ever achieved for Hawthorne Areas of improvement:
- Dropout rate very high at 8%
The Nixyaawii Community School four-year cohort rate is 87%. This is a 14.3% increase from the year before and 6% higher than the state average.
Areas of success:
- Dropout rate lowered by 1.57% to 1%
- 2% increase in 4-year completion rate
- Native American student graduation rate is 87%, 17% higher than state average for Native American students Areas of improvement:
- Dropout rate at 5.1% is higher than desired and above the state average of 3%
- 5-year completion rate is 75.8%, well below the state average of 7%
School Board Recognition Month – January 2025
January 2025 is School Board Appreciation Month. Thank you for your hard work and continued service to the Pendleton School District.
Online Survey to Provide Input
If you were unable to attend the open forum (January 13, 2025, at 7:00 pm in the PHS Auditorium) with the consultants from McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C., Executive Recruitment, and Development, who were selected to assist the Pendleton School District in the important task of selecting superintendent candidates for the board to interview, you may provide input using the online survey link provided.
The five-question survey, available in English and Spanish, will be open for participation from Monday, January 13, through Monday, January 20, 2025.
Pendleton School District Superintendent Announces Resignation
Pendleton School District Superintendent Kevin Headings announced he will not look to extend his contract past the 24-25 school year and will resign effective June 30, 2025. Headings was hired as Superintendent of Pendleton School District in April of 2022. He signed a three-year contract through June 2025.
Headings said upon being hired, he was thrilled with this new chapter in his life and excited about the opportunity to lead Pendleton School District as superintendent. Headings said he’s pleased with what’s been accomplished during his time as superintendent and positive with the direction the school district is headed.
However, while Headings said he was excited with the new opportunity and the progress of the district overall, he realized over time that his heart is still in working as a building principal. “I’m pleased with our work around improving instruction and making our buildings safe for our students and staff and I’m confident with the direction the district is headed. I look forward to finishing out the year strong.” Headings said, “But I’ve realized, over the past year and a half or so, that my heart just isn’t in it. I kept thinking it would change, but it really hasn’t. I’ve been a principal in several different districts and superintendent in two. Working as a building principal with daily interactions with teachers, staff, students and parents is truly where my heart and passion are,” Headings said.
Headings said he is grateful for his time in Pendleton and for the opportunity the Pendleton School District afforded me. He has enjoyed getting to know the people of Pendleton, working with the various staff in the district, and working with the school board, he said.
Welcome to PSD – Jillian Samp
Jillian Samp
4th Grade Teacher
Sherwood Heights Elementary School
Jillian was born in Pendleton and has lived here all her life. She graduated from Pendleton High School in 2020.
She attended Eastern Oregon University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) and a Bachelor of Science degree in Multidisciplinary Studies.
About working in the Pendleton School District, Jillian said, “I’m super excited to be back in my hometown teaching and getting to teach with some amazing teachers in our district.”
In her free time, Jillian loves to spend time with her family and her dog, Scout.
Sherwood Elementary Focuses on 24-25 Year
Sherwood Heights Elementary has a new Principal and new Assistant Principal for the 2024-25 school year. Principal TJ Presley was previously the Assistant Principal. The school’s new Assistant Principal is Faith Lindley. They are focusing on these goals this year:
- Building safety
- Engaging learning environment
- Academic growth
Presley said staff and student safety has always been a priority, but this year, in addition to the standard monthly drills for fire and lockdowns, the staff is emphasizing active supervision. This means adults have high awareness and move around when supervising students inside the building and on the playground. “We have 450 students in our school to monitor so we want people to say something if they see something unsafe so we can address it,” Presley said.
Goal number two is geared toward developing a fun, positive atmosphere where academic and social emotional growth are happening daily. Presley said Sherwood has a great staff to work with. The school’s leadership team, including himself, Lindley, Lisa Roberts, Child Development Specialist, and Taylor Wilson, Behavior Specialist, collaborate to develop a positive school climate.
To further academic growth this year, the school added 10 minutes of extra time to reading and math skills. In addition to Sherwood’s strong teachers and 17 dedicated paraprofessionals, other adults are supporting learning. Volunteers from Altrusa of Pendleton are at Sherwood every week to help students with literacy, students from Eastern Oregon University are providing support in classrooms and some students from Pendleton High School are volunteering in second grade. “Growth is happening,” Presley said.
Head Secretary Amy Kline said Sherwood’s new administrative team is great to work with and supportive of the staff. Every new school year, Kline said, “it’s always fun to see the kids grow into a new grade.” Rhonda Daggett, the school’s Assistant Secretary, said the start of the year has gone smoothly, and she looks forward to seeing the students who struggle realize success throughout the year.
Here’s to a great year, Sherwood Spurs!
To read more about Sherwood Heights Elementary, visit their website at https://ses.pendleton.k12.or.us/ or find them on Facebook and Instagram.
Welcome to PSD – Alexis Keene
Alexis Keene
Special Education Teacher
Sherwood Heights Elementary School
Alexis grew up in Pendleton. She attended Washington Elementary and then Helix School District for middle and high school.
She attended Western Governors University to earn a bachelor’s degree in Special Education Mild-to-Moderate.
What is Alexis most excited about working in the Pendleton School District? “To continue to work with my Sherwood team and to support students as they achieve & succeed at their learning & life skill goals.”
In her free time, she likes to spend time with family & friends, especially if it involves fly fishing, hiking, baking, or going out for frozen yogurt or sushi.
2023-24 State Assessment Results
The Pendleton School District has received the 2023-2024 state assessment results from the Oregon Department of Education. The Statewide Assessment System (SBAC) includes summative assessments administered annually, as required by the State and Federal Departments of Education. These assessments are given to students in grades 3 – 8 and 11 in the areas of math, language arts and science.
Scores improved from the previous year in 9 of the 17 areas tested, specifically in the following grades and subjects: grade 3 math, grade 3 language arts, grade 4 math, grade 4 language arts, grade 7 math, grade 8 language arts, grade 11 science, grade 11 math and grade 11 language arts.
The highest gains are in grade 11 language arts with a 19.9% increase in the number of students meeting the achievement standards, grade 8 language arts with an 11.6% increase and grade 7 math with an 11.8% increase.
The areas where test results dropped by 5% or more were grade 5 science, grade 5 math, grade 5 language arts, and grade 6 math.
PSD administrators, teachers and staff continually work toward academic improvement and success for all students in all areas. The district will dive deeper into the test results in the coming weeks to identify specific areas which may need a more focused effort.
“Although we’d like to see improvement and growth in all areas, we are encouraged by these preliminary results. These improvements in nine areas, some very significant, validates all the hard work our staff do each day to educate every student, every day.” -Kevin Headings, Superintendent
“We appreciate the support from families and students who participate in these assessments. The results of these assessments provide feedback to our teachers and administrators to help identify where our greatest needs are.” – Matt Yoshioka, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
Detailed state, district and school results may be found at: https://www.oregon.gov/ode/educator-resources/assessment/Pages/Assessment-Group-Reports.aspx