iGrad, a partnership between the Kent School District and Green River Community College, will be graduating its first class of students at the ShoWare Center at 7 p.m. Friday, as part of the GRCC graduation ceremony.
iGrad is an individualized graduation and youth re-engagement degree program for students ages 16-21 who are at risk of dropping out of school. The program, located in Kent’s East Hill Mall, is the first program of its kind in the state. Student enrollment at iGrad increased from 159 in August 2012 to 491 as of May.
Sixty-five students are graduating from iGrad on Friday.
“These students have so much to be proud of,” said Superintendent Edward Lee Vargas. “The district gave them a second chance, and the impact on their future will be immense.”
Some students at iGrad who are enrolled in the GRCC program option may participate in the KSD and GRCC ceremonies.
iGrad was created in response to a state law in 2010 encouraging school districts, community and technical colleges, and community-based organizations to develop programs that encourage students who have dropped out of school to finish their high school education. iGrad is a grant-funded partnership between the district and GRCC, which will provide students the chance to earn a KSD diploma, a Washington State diploma or a GED.
Kent School District is a Microsoft International Demonstration Site and is known for its technology in the classroom and educational innovation. It is the fourth largest school district in Washington state and its most ethnically diverse district with more than 138 languages spoken.
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