Clay, Fentress, and Smith counties ranked among the nine best school systems statewide with a 99 percent graduation rate last school year.
Fentress County Director of Schools Kristi Hall said it does not surprise her to see three rural school districts achieving a high graduation rate.
“With rural school systems, a lot of times we think of, we lack in some opportunities,” Hall said. “But it allows us to better know our people and to better serve, and to cater to our needs of our students and our community.”
Hall said rural school systems tend to face the challenges of finding teachers and providing a variety of CTE opportunities for students. Hall said one thing that Fentress County has done over the past couple of years is educating students at a younger age about career opportunities.
“We are not waiting till they get in high school to start looking at those different career paths or career opportunities they might have,” Hall said. “So we are starting to explore that in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade. We are trying to get them out on college campuses, on TCAT, and in places of business. Anywhere that they might pursue something after high school.”
Hall said Fentress County Schools has partnered with York Institute to offer more CTE classes. Hall said she is also looking forward to the opening of the new TCAT Center in Fentress County.
Hall said the school system has also put a focus on helping students improve their ACT scores. Hall said she understands how an ACT score can have a financial impact when a student goes to college. Hall said achieving a 99 percent graduation rate is a major accomplishment and is beneficial to Fentress County.
“As we graduate kids, we don’t want to lose the connection with them either,” Hall said. “We want them to be productive, and we want to prepare them to be productive, whether they choose to go directly into the workforce or if they choose to pursue a higher education. So it’s truly impactful for our county, and I’m glad to be able to work with our community partners and commission to be able to provide for our kids, because it truly takes a village to raise a child.”
