Tracking ninth-graders at Banning High
John Rodriguez and the journalism class at Banning High in Wilmington have embarked on an ambitious project to follow 10 ninth-graders toward graduation as they tackle academic challenges, social pressures and family life's ups and downs.
The students will learn the stories behind the statistics at a school that has rapidly improved academically but still has a high dropout rate. Much less than half the students who start at the Wilmington high school complete four years and collect a diploma.
The students:
Francisco Chavez, 15. Perla Fernandez, 14. Mark Fitzpatrick, 15. Alma Garduno, 14. Jessica Gutierrez, 15. Jacquiline Heredia, 14. Maribel Hildago, 14. Jesus Hurtado, 15. Milvia Orantes, 14. Shadow Smith, 15.Read Paul's story for more.