Utah school says adding ninth grade will boost grad rates

Education » Granger is one of four Granite District schools looking at grade reconfiguration.

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But ninth-graders at Granger will have access to a wider variety of classes, sports and clubs.

"I think they’ll meet whatever challenges will come their way," said Teina Moore, a parent and the chair of Granger’s community council. "I really think the positive will outweigh the things we’re not expecting."

Bates said many Utah high schools don’t include ninth grade simply because all four grades can’t fit within the building. It’s a housing issue, not an education issue, he said. "As the housing issue goes away the advantages for having the ninth-graders in the high school are significant."

Stephanie Day, a 14 year old ninth-grader at West Lake junior, is "excited and a little bit nervous" about becoming a high school student, even though she’ll start at Granger in the 10th grade. Having to jump into high school a year earlier would "definitely" have been a big change, she said.

Haslam welcomes the challenge.

"I think it’s best for kids," Haslam said, and it’s "best for student learning."

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