Impact Narrative
South Carolina Schools Boost Graduation Rates with DPI Program
Custom Dropout Prevention Plans Lead to Reduced Referrals and Higher Graduation Rates
The South Carolina Department of Education integrated the National Dropout Prevention Center’s Diploma Planning Institute (DPI) program to tackle one of the state’s most pressing challenges: improving graduation rates among at-risk students. In collaboration with NDPC specialists, schools across the state developed and implemented dropout prevention plans that achieved measurable improvements.
Addressing the Issue
Despite various initiatives, South Carolina schools struggled with inconsistent and unfocused dropout prevention efforts. Recognizing the urgency of this issue, the South Carolina Department of Education, in collaboration with the Transition Alliance of South Carolina, sought a comprehensive solution to empower schools to develop and implement effective dropout prevention plans tailored to their unique circumstances.
Tailored Support through the Diploma Planning Institute
The National Dropout Prevention Center (NDPC) introduced the Diploma Planning Institute to tackle this challenge head-on. This three-day workshop guided school-level teams through the process of creating customized, research-based dropout prevention plans. The DPI moved schools away from random acts of dropout prevention toward systematic, measurable strategies, enabling them to address their specific challenges with actionable plans.
During the DPI, participants engaged in a deep dive into the factors contributing to student dropouts, with a strong focus on local data and school-specific issues.The workshop covered essential topics such as risk-factor identification, effective dropout prevention strategies, and the development of Graduation Improvement Plans. NDPC specialists helped participants analyze their own student data, select targeted interventions, and align their interventions with existing School Improvement Plans. The involvement of the Transition Alliance of South Carolina further bolstered the initiative, creating a collaborative environment focused on achieving measurable improvements.
Tangible Outcomes and Measurable Success
The impact of the Diploma Planning Institute in South Carolina has been profound. At Colleton County High School, office referrals decreased by 26% from the 2022-23 to the 2023-24 school year, and the number of students off grade level dropped by 46% during the same period. Meanwhile, Byrnes High School saw a significant increase in its graduation rate, rising from 85.5% in 2023 to 90% in 2024.
Colleton County High School
In the 2022-2023 to 2023-2024 school year Colleton County High School saw a reduction of office referrals by 26% and off-grade-level students by 46%
Byrnes High School
Byrnes High School saw an Increased Graduation Rate from 85.5% in 2023 to 90% in 2024
Project Leads
Nancy Nielsen
Senior Consultant & Certification Program Specialist
Thomas Hawkins
Manager of Content & Innovation
Todd Daggett
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Dr. Anthony Nottingham
Executive and Leadership CoachTake the next step in improving your school's graduation rates!
Contact us today to learn more about the Diploma Planning Institute or to schedule a customized DPI for your team. Fill out the inquiry form below. Once submitted, a member of our team will reach out to provide you with all the information you need and help you plan your event.
Alternatively you can contact Todd Daggett, at tdaggett@spnetwork.org with the subject line “Diploma Planning Institute” or give the National Dropout Prevention Center a call at (518) 723-2063 for more information about this service.