District Excels in Graduation Rates

Waukee Community School District (CSD) takes pride in its staff and students for continuously rising above standards and surpassing the expectations given to them. Iowa’s high school graduation rate edged up in 2018 to an all-time high of 91.4 percent, underscoring long-term progress, according to figures released today by the Iowa Department of Education.

Waukee CSD is proud to excel beyond these percentages with a 98.5 percent graduation rate. Waukee CSD is rated #1 in the state for highest graduation rate for a 4A district.

Waukee’s PK-12 instructional model, with teachers focused on meeting the needs of all learners, is a catalyst for our continued student success. At the high school level, there are a variety of programs that help to put students ahead of the curve. Aspiring Professional Experience (otherwise known as APEX) is a semester-long opportunity. There are multiple sectors with different course options for each. Ranging from Finance Banking and Investments to Medical and Bioscience Research to Business Startup. These opportunities allow for a more diverse course load that focuses on specific career paths for each sector.

In addition to the APEX program, Waukee offers School-to-Work internship opportunities for seniors. Over 60 students get accepted into this college-credit course annually. Internships vary to meet the wants and needs of the different students each year. There are over 160-course options at the high school that offer opportunities from DMACC concurrent credit to hybrid courses. These opportunities have helped to develop students to a higher potential than without these opportunities. Students are taking initiative and striving to meet new potentials.

The State Board of Education has set a 95 percent goal for the statewide graduation rate.

Iowa graduation rates are calculated with a formula established by the U.S. Department of Education. Unique student identification numbers allow school districts to account for all ninth-grade students as they move through high school. At the state level, the method helps determine when a student graduates, even if the student has switched districts in Iowa during high school.

Visit the Graduation Rates and Dropout Rates webpage for more information on Iowa’s graduation rates and dropout rates, including rates by a school district and student subgroup.