Darlene Schottle touted new programs and increasing student enrollment and graduation rates in Kalispell schools at a Kalispell Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Tuesday.

“It truly takes a community to raise a really rich school system, both at the K-12 level and the community college level, because we depend upon your support,” said Schottle, superintendent of Kalispell Public Schools.

Schottle said students who stay in school impact the business community by creating an educated workforce.

“Our graduation rate is about 82 percent. That’s not as high as across the state, but we’re still higher compared to other AA schools,” Schottle said.

“We can be really proud at where we are at.”

She also noted the concerted community effort to keep students in school and said the dropout rate has decreased to 4 percent.

“There’s a direct correlation between school quality outcomes and level of employment within community, so we’re very focused to keep our kids in schools,” Schottle said.

The number of students eligible for free and reduced lunches based on a low family income has dropped from 70 percent in some schools last year to 59 percent this year.

“That speaks to me as increased employment and that our community is doing better — or we have better access [to services] for our students in the community,” Schottle said.

Schottle highlighted the new science, technology and math curriculum at Glacier High School and plans to extend them to Kalispell Middle School next year when Flathead High School will kick off a biomedical science program.

More students are taking Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes, Schottle said.

“It speaks a lot to the rigorous programs in our schools,” Schottle said.

Schottle thanked the community for its continued support to expand school facilities to accommodate student growth, most recently eight elementary classroom additions.

“When you talk about 21st century learner, we’re already 14 percent through the 21st century,” Schottle said.

Technology plays a big part in keeping students engaged, Schottle said.

“If we can’t keep them interested, then we aren’t going to keep them in school,” Schottle said. “The web is 25 years old. There’s not one child in our school that has not been raised [with it] since the Internet first came into being. Some of our new teachers, they’re less than 25 years old, so this is part of their culture.”

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.