Students, parents and staff of the Leo A. Palmiter Jr./Sr. High School and Elinor Lincoln Hickey Jr./Sr. High School sites came together for an evening of fun and celebration at an Open House on April 17, 2007.
Visitors had an opportunity to see, first hand, the great work being done by the students and the hard work being put forth by the instructors and support staff on-campus. The school is operated by the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) Special Services/Special Education Department for special needs and high-risk students.
Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools David W. Gordon welcomed visitors, complimented students for their achievements, and thanked teachers and staff for their hard work.
"It's because of innovative ideas that students at Elinor Lincoln Hickey and Palmiter are reaching new heights," Gordon said. "And it's because of the support of our fine teachers and staff — and, of course, you parents and guardians — that these successes are possible."
Superintendent Gordon took the opportunity to announce new partnerships with employers and to thank them for agreeing to serve as job training sites for SCOE students: Chick-Fil-A, Waffle Square, Mr. Pickles, Emigh Hardware, Barnes and Noble, and Borders Books.
After a light meal of sandwiches donated by Chick-Fil-A and food prepared by students participating in the Culinary Arts Program, and a welcoming from staff and members of the Palmiter Student Council, visitors enjoyed a tour of the classrooms and the campus.
Enrollment and average daily attendance on both campuses have increased by 20-percent compared to last year. Attendance at Palmiter is averaging nearly 90-percent. At Palmiter, to date, three-quarters of the projected graduating class have passed both portions of the California High School Exit Exam. The school is also seeing an increasing number of 10th grade students passing one or both portions of the exit exam on the first try. An increase has also been noted in the number of students passing the English/Language Arts portion of the exam compared to last year
The school site is home to Leo A. Palmiter Jr./Sr. High School, Elinor Lincoln Hickey Jr./Sr. High School, and Resource Specialist Programs.