West Albany reports high graduation rate, ongoing attendance challenges

West Albany High School Principal Rich Engel updated the board on school performance, reporting a strong graduation result and ongoing efforts to improve attendance.

Engel said the class that graduated earlier in the week included 343 diploma recipients with 331 students walking in the ceremony; he reported a 95% graduation rate for the 2024 cohort on the state report card and said several students received extended diplomas that are counted differently in state metrics. The principal described layered interventions — senior study skills time, weekly data review meetings with counselors and administrators, credit‑recovery supports for freshmen and a ninth‑grade success team provided with external assistance — to keep students on track.

On attendance, Engel said the school’s regular‑attender rate was about 73% last year (short of a stated 80% goal), and he called attendance the school’s “number one issue.” The school reported it cut student tardies by about 40% versus the prior year after implementing incentive strategies and policy changes; Engel said the district and West Albany are focusing on students in the 80–90% attendance tier who are most likely to benefit from re‑engagement.

Engel also highlighted career‑readiness work, a new career‑foundations class to meet state requirements, partnership with Linn-Benton Community College and a college-and-career coordinator assigned to the school.

Why it matters: Strong graduation results and targeted interventions contrast with continuing attendance shortfalls that district and school staff said will drive priorities for next year.

Next steps: Principal Engel said the school will continue weekly attendance monitoring, expand interventions for students between 80%–90% attendance, and work with district staff on focused attendance outreach programs.