Yelm Community Schools’ class of 2026 graduation rate second highest since 2017-18

Despite all the adversity experienced by students, teachers and staff throughout Yelm Community Schools (YCS) as financial uncertainty continues, the district saw a record year in graduation rates from the Yelm Extension School with the class of 2026, and the second highest overall graduation rate in eight years from all seniors.

YCS Superintendent Chris Woods, speaking during the superintendent’s comments portion of a YCS Board of Directors meeting on Thursday, Oct. 22, wanted to highlight the recent success experienced at the Yelm Extension School and Yelm High School (YHS) by graduates in the class of 2026.

According to the superintendent, graduation rates are one of the numbers that Yelm and school districts throughout the state are judged by the community on.

Additionally, Woods noted that graduation rates are one of the numbers that the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) publishes for high schools.

“There’s so much that goes into those numbers. For each district, that would include any comprehensive high school, any alternative programs, any seniors that are graduating and in that graduation class,” Woods said. “So, for 2026, our Yelm Extension School graduation rate was 71.7% — which is an all-time high.”

Woods added the accomplishment of nearly 72% of Yelm Extension School seniors graduating is pretty amazing. The students attending the extension school, according to the superintendent, attend it for a number of reasons, including life experiences that have created challenges for them in the classroom, different health concerns or because a large, comprehensive high school setting is overwhelming and they need more individualized instruction.

“The other great thing about that is we’ve added another teacher to our extension school so that we can accommodate the number of students that want to go into that program,” Woods said. “We ended up taking that teacher from the high school due to declining enrollment. We were able to make that move over here.”

The superintendent also applauded YHS’s class of 2026 for obtaining a graduation rate of 89%, which is the school’s third highest rate since 2017-18.

Woods described the high school’s graduation rate as a great achievement, especially when taking into consideration the significant challenges experienced throughout the district during these senior’s high school tenure.

“Those numbers don’t tell the whole story of all the time and energy our counselors put in to help our students navigate classes and getting through high school,” Woods said. “The teachers, the para-educators, the custodians, the food service workers, the bus drivers, the administrators, the office staff — so many people invest in our students. It’s not just happening in the classroom. That’s why these numbers are so important. On top of that, it’s not just in high school. There’s a foundation started well before high school that contributes to them graduating.”

Woods wrapped up by saying he simply wanted to celebrate the recent success in Yelm students’ graduation rates. He added that when you have an opportunity to tell staff members congratulations, particularly at YHS, it’s in order.