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By KREMENA TODOROVA

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- More River Bend graduates than ever are going to post-secondary schools, according to River Bend Superintendent Linda Wintz.

As of June, 15 out of 36 graduating seniors who attended the River Bend Area Learning Center day program -- or about 42 percent -- were enrolled in post-secondary schools for next fall, or else serving in the military, said Wintz.

"This is our biggest number ever," she told the Board of Education of New Ulm's District 88, the largest of several school districts that send students to River Bend.

Unlike students who split their time between home districts and River Bend, day program students, the subject of Wintz's statistics, attend River Bend full-time.

Wintz explained the relatively high rate of post-secondary enrollment with a greater-than-usual emphasis on the successful completion of the college admission process.

"The therapists worked with the students on applications," she said. "It paid off."

Presenting District 88 with her customary annual report, Wintz also provided other detail about the Class of 2004 -- and about other programs and special activities at the center.

In 2003-2004, 85 seniors were enrolled at River Bend, either part time or full time, Wintz said. Of these students, 62 graduated, she said. Ten dropped out of school, and 14 are returning next year to earn a diploma, according to the report. Of the 62 graduates, nine were second-year seniors who had come back to earn a diploma after failing the year before.

One senior took -- and passed -- the state's basic skills reading test -- a requirement for graduation which students start taking in eighth grade. Of five seniors who took the state's mandatory math test, two passed and three failed.

Some additional highlights:

* Overall, 12 River Bend students, in grades 8-12, took the basic skills reading test and 31 took the math test. Five passed reading, but only seven passed math -- which has prompted staff to look at the math curriculum and see what can be done to improve the passage rate, noted Wintz.

* With a total of 82 students involved in River Bend programs in 2003-2004, New Ulm was by far the largest "user" of services, according to Wintz's report.

The remaining 80 students were split in various proportions among ten smaller districts: Sibley East, St. James, GFW, Springfield, Sleepy Eye, Madelia, Buffalo, Buffalo Lake-Hector, McLeod West and Nicollet.

* River Bend served some special groups, including: five students with learning disabilities; 11 students with behavior and emotional problems; 22 expectant or teen parents, 13 "dropouts," in grades 10-12; 19 students with a minority background; and 52 students on county probation.

* The center suspended students for several types of offenses: disruptive behavior (12); fights (nine, including two at the high school and seven at the middle level); drugs (four); weapons violations (two); smoking (two); and a bus violation (one).