POST-GRAD SURVEYs
MAY 2010, AUGUST 2010 AND JANUARY 2011 TELEPHONE SURVEYS OF MAY 2009, AUGUST 2009, AND DECEMBER 2009 GRADUATES
Number of these Graduates: 49
Number of these Graduates for Whom we have Data: 32
Response rate: 65%
88% of this sample of graduates were enrolled and attending high school or college; another 13% were mostly enrolled in “gap” programs, or had jobs and were working.
Of those in school or college, 73% of these alumni were described by parents as doing well in school; another 7% were doing okay; and 20% were struggling academically.
34% of this sample had jobs. Most of the graduates who were not working were enrolled full-time in high school or college. Only one student was in rehab.
56% of this sample of graduates were described as having good relationships with their families; 34% had okay relationships; and 9% were struggling with families.
67% of this sample of graduates were described as having good peer relationships; 27% had okay peer relationships; 7% were struggling with peer relationships; and the other 6% of parents reported they did not know how their child’s relationships were with peers.
34% of this sample were described as having no substance use; 44% as using within an age-appropriate range (e.g. smoking cigarettes, or moderate alcohol use); 16% were said to have problematic use or substance abuse; and the other 6% of parents did not know if their child was using substances.
31% of the sample’s parents said that after graduation their sons and daughters had no problems with the transition from Montana Academy; 44% said the transition went okay; and 22% reported that they had struggled with the transition, with misbehavior or substance use, which ultimately improved.
31% of these graduates’ parents reported no problems with the negotiated home contract; 38% reported that the contract follow-through went okay; and 31% reported post-graduate struggles over the home contract, i.e., did not follow rules, or made their own, or failed to follow through on plans or commitments.
94% of the sampled parents of these three graduate cohorts reported, one year after graduation, that they still felt good about their decision to send their sons and daughters to Montana Academy. Only one parent reported that he/she had mixed feelings.