Ombudsman has helped us with our graduation rate.
.sflb)
Our students face challenges every day, even before they step into a classroom. Over 66 percent of our students are eligible for free or reduced lunch; 47 percent live in single parent households; and 39 percent are from families with children under 12 years old living in poverty. Only 39 percent of the adult population in the community are high school graduates or equivalent.
These conditions make it difficult for students to get to school and pay attention in class. We wanted a program at Westwood that would help us provide opportunities for our students to achieve success. We wanted to help them accomplish their goals, no matter their personal circumstances.
Ombudsman has helped us do that. The flexible schedule and small student-to-teacher ratio are very important parts of the program. Our first year with Ombudsman, 37 students who were at risk of dropping out or had already dropped out graduated.
Ombudsman has helped us with our graduation rate and has helped some of our students believe in themselves again. Our first graduating class speaker brought tears to my eyes when he expressed his sincere appreciation to the staff and the program for believing in him.
