Retaining Students for Dighton-Rehoboth

The Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District has hired two retention coordinators in an effort to encourage students to attend D-R Regional High School instead of going to other districts.

Last March, Superintendent Bill Runey cited a dramatic decline in enrollment in the district, with a third of all eighth grade middle school students opting not to attend Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School.

“That is unacceptable,” Runey said. “We have a great high school.”

The job responsibilities for the retention coordinators include:

• Develop and implement recruitment strategies to attract students to the Dighton Rehoboth Regional School District and promote its unique advantages including but not limited to Honors and AP classes, Career and Technical Education (CTE) offerings, a nationally recognized Performing Arts program, and a full complement of athletics and activities. 
• Coordinate with school counselors, teachers, and administrators to identify students who may be at risk of leaving the district and implement retention strategies to work to ensure they remain in the district.
• Collaborate with community organizations, businesses, and other stakeholders to develop partnerships and initiatives that support recruitment and retention efforts.
• Organize, coordinate, and collaborate with DRRHS staff on events and activities that showcase the district and its programs, such as open houses, CTE shadow days, parent information nights, and student orientation programs.
• Maintain a database of prospective and current students and track their progress through the recruitment and retention process.
• Provide ongoing support and guidance to students and families as they navigate the transition to high school.
• Collaborate with the high school administration to ensure that middle school students are prepared for the academic and social challenges of high school.
• Survey middle school students and their families to gain relevant insights including those that reflect their choice of high school.

The retention coordinators are located at each middle school in the district. They are being paid a stipend of $3694.