Friday, September 19, 2025
Woodland High School's ninth-grade students have achieved remarkable academic success, with the school's latest Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) report card showing a significant increase in course passage rates. For the 2023–2024 school year, over 91.4% of 9th graders passed all of their classes, a percentage that has grown consistently each year. This is well above the statewide average of 70.6%.
Principal Dr. Pearson attributes this impressive growth to a strategic decision to provide staff with release time. This dedicated time allows teachers to work collaboratively to develop targeted plans for students who may be struggling. This approach, originally funded by a 9th Grade Success grant, ensures students get the help they need in a timely and focused manner.
In addition to this staff collaboration, the school’s unique GRIT classes also play a key role. GRIT stands for Gratitude, Resilience, Integrity, and Team. First adopted by the athletic department, these grade-level classes provide a structured environment for staff to reinforce school-wide expectations and proactively address student concerns as they arise.
The combination of collaborative staff support and intentional time used in the GRIT class is proving to be a powerful formula for student success at Woodland High School.