By Eason Franklin
The Lowndes Signal

As most Lowndes County students settle into their desks to finish out the school year, some high school juniors and graduating seniors are taking extra steps to prepare for graduation exams.

Central-Hayneville High School’s (CHS) teachers and faculty recently hosted a workshop for teachers, students and parents to help curb Lowndes County’s dropout rate and help students graduate.

The high school’s faculty and staff recently hosted a program themed Destination Graduation in an effort to educate parents about their student‘s academic strengths and weaknesses.

“It is important for teachers, parents and students to know where they are and where they need to be,” said CHS Principal Peggy Grant. “This is a journey for our juniors and seniors and this is where the rubber meets the road.”

Grant spoke to parents and students of the importance of each student to graduate saying, “our students are going to do extremely well, pass the high school exam, make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) scores and the students will be the best Lowndes County has to offer.”

Each parent received a profile on their student from the school and each group individually met with teachers to discuss plans to prepare for the upcoming exam.

Barbara Oliver, whose daughter attends CHS, said the discussions offered both students and parents helpful tips about study and focus habits.

“It them to study more and focus more,” Oliver said. “Their lives depend on it.”

Students taking the exam will be tested in reading comprehension, language, social studies, science and mathematics.

To pass, a student must earn a score of 563 or higher in reading comprehension, 560 or higher in language, a 477 or above in mathematics, score 491 or higher in science and a score of at least 509 on the social studies portion.

Lowndes County Board of Education (BOE) Transformation Specialist noted she was “charging the children to show them that they can do this and be able to say I’m going to give it my all.”

“I tell them, you have to believe in it more than I believe in it,” said Thompson. “I believe in my heart this school has given you everything they can give you…and I’m charging the students to do this.”

The graduation exam will take place from Feb. 28 to March 4.