Mobile County school officials say a handful of targeted programs are making a measurable difference in helping students graduate on time, part of a broader push that has included after-hours credit recovery sessions, expanded tutoring and counseling, and a wider array of rigorous coursework such as Advanced Placement classes.
One of the initiatives, the Mobile County school system’s Star Academy, is designed for eighth-graders who have fallen at least a year behind and, based on age, should already be in high school. Admission requires an application, and students who enroll must complete a demanding curriculum. Those who succeed can finish all of their eighth-grade credits and most of their ninth-grade credits within a single school year, effectively closing the gap that put them at risk of falling further behind.
A second program, the Mobile Area Education Foundation’s Evening Education Options Program, gives high school students who have fallen behind a chance to attend classes from 4 to 8 p.m. on weeknights at Palmer Pillans Middle School. Students work at their own pace with tutors and counselors, and many end up graduating alongside their original classmates. Most participants are 17 or older and roughly two years’ worth of credits behind. The Mobile County school system contributes more than $638,000 annually to fund the program, which launched in 2009 and has drawn national recognition, including praise from America’s Promise Alliance, which cited it as a factor in Mobile being selected as a site for a national Grad Nation Community Summit.
Program leaders say the evening format helps re-energize students who had disengaged from traditional high school, combining academic instruction with life-skills development, including career planning. Officials say the personalized attention students receive in the evening program often makes the difference between dropping out and finishing a diploma.
The third initiative highlighted by school officials is the Mobile Kappa League, a leadership training program for male high school students sponsored by the Mobile chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. The league, which has about 80 members, requires students to apply, interview and maintain good grades to participate. Advisors say a student’s attitude and commitment matter as much as academic standing, and that demand for spots regularly exceeds the number available. Members volunteer regularly in the community and take part in college tours together, with many going on to earn scholarships.
Taken together, officials say the three programs reflect a broader philosophy within the Mobile County school system: meeting students where they are, whether that means an accelerated curriculum, flexible scheduling, or mentorship, in order to keep them on track toward graduation.