Sam is among the 27 students OPB has been following as part of the Class of 2025 project, which began in response to the state of Oregon’s goal that 100% of students would graduate from high school, starting with this cohort of students. Like all 27 students OPB is following, Sam started at Earl Boyles Elementary School in Southeast Portland. His family moved to Springfield when Sam was still in the primary grades, and he’s been there ever since.
When OPB checked in with Sam at the end of his freshman year, he was behind academically.
“I failed a bunch of classes my freshman year,” Sam explained, thinking back on his start to high school this past July, from his home in Springfield. “So I had to retake those.”…