District Battles Dropouts With Cradle-to-Graduation Approach

By Jessica Portner

Cushing, Okla.

Eric Marquez stares out the window of a portable classroom that abuts a field of yellow prairie grass stretching for miles toward the rising sun.

When his teacher announces it's time to start the morning lesson, the Cushing High School freshman spins around on his metal chair and plops his face on the desk, then looks up at the teacher. Melanie McCool holds up flashcards printed with the words "car" and "star," which the...