In recent months, officials of the Duquesne City School District have outlined the numerous efforts they've put in place to help students in grades K-8 improve their academic performance and behavior.

On Tuesday, the state board of control heard a report from Community Education Liaison Barbara McDonnell about efforts now being made to ensure that high school students will succeed as well.

Duquesne High School was closed in June 2007, and since that time students from Duquesne have attended either East Allegheny or West Mifflin Area high schools.

During the past two years, Ms. McDonnell said, officials in the three districts have focused on creating the process through which the students select their high schools and transition to them. That process is now being documented.

Starting this year, she said, Duquesne administrators and those at the two high schools hope to focus on individual Duquesne students, making sure they have the resources they need to succeed.

"For two years the focus was on process and procedure. Now let's take a look at how the kids are doing. We need to see what supports the kids are getting if they are struggling," said Ms. McDonnell, who is in her second year as community education liaison.

The recent Pennsylvania System of School Assessment test scores indicate that Duquesne high school students appear to be struggling, as just 25 percent scored proficient or above in reading and 6.3 percent in math. The state targets were for 63 percent of students to score proficient or above in reading and 53 percent in math.

Ms. McDonell said she and Cheryl Fogarty, superintendent of record for Duquesne, met with officials from West Mifflin Area last week and were set to meet this week with those at East Allegheny.

As part of the effort to keep track of students, Ms. McDonnell said Duquesne would receive quarterly reports on each student in reference to their grades, attendance and behavior.

From those reports, school officials will be able to come up with individual plans for students who need help in any areas.

In addition, Duquesne officials are comparing the curriculums at the two high schools to that of the elementary program in Duquesne in hopes of making changes that will better prepare the Duquesne students to enter the high schools.

And, Ms. McDonnell said she plans to be in touch with the operators of the Duquesne-West Mifflin Boys & Girls Club, where some high school students seek help with their homework after school.

"We need to find out what kinds of things they are having trouble with," Ms. McDonnell said.

Ms. McDonnell said officials at both East Allegheny and West Mifflin Area were working with her on the effort. "The high schools have been great to work with," she said.

Board of control chairwoman Audrey Utley urged parents of high school students to stay in contact with Duquesne officials if their children are having trouble.

"Get in touch with us," Dr. Utley said. "Our education doesn't just end at K-8.

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