Former Board Member joins State Board of Education

for students in special education, for students with limited English language skills, for students identified as gifted and talented, for students experiencing homelessness and more.

Rhonda Solis, who served two terms on the GreeleyEvans School District 6 Board of Education, was sworn in Wednesday, January 11 to the State Board of Education, representing Congressional District 8, which includes much of Greeley and southern Weld County, as well as parts of Adams County.

Surrounded by family, Solis and four other state board members took the oath of office at the Colorado Department of Education offices across from the State Capitol. After the brief swearing-in ceremony, the Board convened a two-day meeting.

Solis defeated Republican Peggy Probst in the general election in November. Solis served on the District 6 Board of Education from 2013-2021.

District 6 graduation rate exceeds state average

The on-time graduation rate for Greeley-Evans School District 6 seniors has gone up again for the seventh straight year, exceeding the state average by more than two percentage points.

According to the Colorado Department of Education 2022 graduation rates for Colorado school districts the on-time graduation rate for District 6 is 84.6 percent, up from 84.1 percent in 2021, and exceeding the state average of 82.3 percent. A total of 1,341 students graduated from District 6 schools in 2022, up from 1,264 in 2021.

In 2015, the District 6 on-time graduation rate was 76.9 percent. Since then, Superintendent Dr.

Deirdre Pilch has helped lead the implementation of two strategic plans that make personalized learning and high school graduation a top priority.

“It is essential for the success of our students, our community and our nation that all students graduate high school with a clear plan for their future,” Dr. Pilch said. “Our Strategic Plan, Innovation2030, focuses on providing a personalized learning experience for all students to keep them engaged in their education and ensure they are college and career ready when they graduate.”

District 6 also exceeds the state graduation rate for Caucasian, Latino and Black students, for students who live in economically disadvantaged households,

Ensuring that all students graduate on-time, ready for their future, is continuing work in District 6. “Every student can and should graduate on time. We just need to ensure they have the right support, and partner with our families and communities, so they cross the finish line,” said Dr. Pilch. “We are proud of our students and our staff who work so hard every day to make sure this happens.”

The dropout rate for District 6 is went up slightly in 2022 to 2.1 percent, from 1.7 percent in 2021.

Here are the graduation rates by school in District 6:

• District 6 Online Academy: 80.8 percent

• Early College Academy: 98.1 percent

• Greeley Central High School: 90.5 percent

• Greeley West High School: 90.7 percent

• Jefferson High School/ Greeley-Evans Alternative Program: 55.9 percent

• Northridge High School: 90.1 percent

• Frontier Academy High School: 100 percent

• Union Colony Preparatory: 90.9 percent

• University High School: 96.7 percent