Northwest Regional Education Service District
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We established our 9th Grade Success Network to address a critical challenge facing high schools across the Pacific Northwest: ensuring that every student completes 9th grade on track to graduate.
Research from the University of Chicago (2005) and Phillips (2019) demonstrated that students who are on-track by the end of their freshman year are 3.5 times more likely to graduate than those who are not.
Recognizing this pivotal transition point, our agency brought together 31 high schools in Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook and Washington counties to form a collaborative network.
Our network was founded on the principle that by sharing strategies, resources, and best practices, we could collectively improve outcomes for all students, with particular attention to historically underserved populations.
Since our inception in 2017, the network has grown from a small pilot program to a robust regional collaboration. Schools work together to identify effective interventions, analyze data, and implement evidence-based practices that support 9th graders during this critical year. Through regular convenings, professional development, and shared learning, our network has become a model for regional educational improvement efforts.
See Our Work in Action: Announcements & Stories
Monthly Messenger - That's a Wrap
Colleagues,
As we wrap up another school year, I find myself reflecting on the dedication, compassion, and perseverance of the educators and staff across our region. Every day in classrooms, counseling offices, school buses, cafeterias, via home visits, and countless other spaces, our region’s educators help young people learn, overcome obstacles, and discover what is possible for their futures. This work is not always easy - and it is often unseen - but its impact is profound.
Over the past few days, as I've attended graduations, field days, and year-end celebrations, I've heard story after story of educators who refused to give up on students facing truly extraordinary challenges. Some were navigating significant mental health struggles. Others were carrying the fear, uncertainty, and disruption that immigration enforcement actions have brought to their families and communities. Again and again, educators responded with compassion, persistence, and an unwavering belief in their students.
Recently, superintendents from across our region shared praise for the school improvement teams, special educators, and many others across Northwest Regional ESD. It was heartening to hear how deeply connected our work is to their districts’ successes and how much can be accomplished when communities come together in support of strong public schools.
I hope you'll join me in celebrating the accomplishments highlighted in our final newsletter of the school year. Behind every data point, program, and initiative are dedicated educators helping students achieve goals, overcome barriers, and realize their potential.
We are deeply grateful for your partnership and proud of the difference we make together for students, families, and communities across our region.
Read the June Monthly Messenger.
Dan Goldman
Superintendent