Economy forcing students out of school in Alaska?

The graduation rate for high school students in Alaska’s capital dropped by 7 percent 2009-2010 from the previous year, according to a student achievement report presented recently at a Juneau School District board meeting. 

The report revealed that not only did the overall graduation rate drop from 76.7 percent to 69.7 percent, but the rate for Alaska Natives fell from 60.4 percent to 50 percent.

"I'm really disappointed to see the graduation rate," board member Sally Saddler told the Juneau Empire. "What is happening?"

What’s happening, Yaakoosge Daakahidi High School Principal Sara Marino said, is that the economy is forcing students out of school and into the job market.

"The good thing is many of them are coming back," Marino said. "The large majority of students are coming back and we're just surrounding them with support and our fingers crossed. There's been outreach letters, advisor phone calls, a community lesion helping with outreach."