Largest-Ever Graduation Walk is All About Student Success
Volunteers complete a form after a successful home visit on Saturday’s Graduation Walk.
It’s the goal of every school district to provide students with a great education and, ultimately, a high school diploma that prepares each of them to succeed at the next stage of their lives.
But until the graduation rate reaches 100%, there’s unfinished business.
At Des Moines Public Schools, a number of new-fangled tactics are at work contributing to the steadily increasing graduation rate, from academic support labs at each high school to providing greater course rigor to increasing support for extracurricular activities.
Volunteers leave East High fired up for the Graduation Walk.
But one effective tactic involves nothing more innovative than good old-fashioned shoe leather.
For the last six years now, volunteers have hit the streets of Des Moines on a fall Saturday morning, going door-to-door to talk with students and their parents about the importance of staying in or returning to high school.
When the 2014 edition of the Graduation Walk took place on August 23, it turned out to be the biggest, most promising one yet. The success was due in no small part to great community partners at United Way of Central Iowa and Wells Fargo.
“A big thank you to all of the volunteers for their time and enthusiasm,” said Ruth Wright, the At-Risk Specialist for Des Moines Public Schools who coordinates the annual event. “As a result of a strong team effort 1,260 homes were visited; and volunteers spoke to 530 people; including 188 students and 205 parents/guardians.”
More than 340 volunteers gathered first thing Saturday at each of the six DMPS high schools. Fittingly, the early morning rain started to let up just as small teams of volunteers fanned out to all corners of the city.
Each team carried a list of recent dropouts and students who have fallen behind in credits toward graduation. They also had information to share with students about supports available to get them caught up and back on track.
“It was an honor to be part of the Hoover (High School) effort and I really felt like we made a difference today,” said Elisabeth Buck, Chief Community Impact Officer for United Way of Central Iowa.
The lesson for the day? Never underestimate the difference a simple knock on the door can make.
The numbers below compare the 2014 and 2013 events:
| 2014 | 2013 | |
| Volunteers | 342 | 283 |
| Home Visits/Door Knocks | 1,260 | 782 |
| Personal contact with Student or Parent/Guardian | 530 | 390 |
