Graduation rates on the rise in Valley Stream

The Valley Stream Central High School District posted a graduation rate well above the statewide average, according to data released by the New York State Education Department last month.

In the 2010-11 school year, 89.3 percent of district students who had started ninth grade in September 2007 received local diplomas, Regents Diplomas or Regents Diplomas with Advanced Designation. The New York state average for the category was 74 percent.

This year, Valley Stream South High School graduated 100 percent of its eligible seniors, and District Superintendent Dr. Bill Heidenreich said that the graduation rates at both Central and North were above 90 percent as well, though the numbers won’t be official until next year’s state report card comes out.

Board of Education Vice President Tony Iadevaio said the latest percentages are very encouraging, but he would like to see them continue to increase. “It’s very gratifying that what we’re doing up at the board level, with administration and the people that we’re hiring, turn out to be doing really well,” he said.

The district’s three high schools each graduate hundreds of students each year. To do so, the building principals said, takes a lot of hard work from many different people.

“It’s not an easy task,” said Dr. Joseph Pompilio, principal at Central High School. “I think that what it comes down to is identification of at-risk seniors from very early on in the year. It takes a lot of teacher input with guidance counselors.” Pompilio added that he meets with at-risk students and their parents to put an academic plan in place to help those students graduate.

North High School Principal Clifford Odell said that the district’s high graduation rate is a combined effort on the part of students, their families and staff members. “They say it takes a village,” Odell said, “and I believe it is a combined effort of all those key constituents who are working with the students.”

Maureen Henry, principal at Valley Stream South, said that a high graduation rate requires the dedication of not only students, but a host of others in the school community. “It’s due to a lot of planning,” Henry said. “A lot of dedication and high expectations for students.”