By Joaquin Aguilar-Flores, KFCS
Klamath Falls City Schools saw notable gains in graduation outcomes for the Class of 2025, with all three district high schools reporting increased four-year cohort graduation rates, according to data released Jan. 29 by the Oregon Department of Education.

Districtwide, 184 of 266 students in the four-year cohort graduated, resulting in a 69.2% graduation rate for the 2024–25 school year. This marks a significant increase from the prior year’s rate of 60.22%.

The statewide average was at 83% in the state of Oregon.

The district’s four-year cohort completer rate reached 73.7%, with an additional 12 students completing through alternative pathways.

Eagle Ridge New Tech High School experienced one of the largest year-over-year gains, graduating 21 of 27 students for a 77.8% graduation rate. This reflects a sharp rise from the school’s 58.62% rate the previous year. Eagle Ridge also posted a completer rate of 77.8% for the Class of 2025.

Klamath Learning Center showed substantial improvement as well, with 63 graduates out of 117 students, resulting in a 53.8% four-year cohort graduation rate, up from 31.25% in 2023–24. The school’s completer rate climbed to 64.1%.

“Klamath Learning Center experienced an increase in graduation rates for the 2024–2025 school year,” Klamath Learning Center Director Toby Flackus said. “We are pleased with this progress and remain focused on continuing to strengthen outcomes for our students. The improvement appears to be driven by multiple factors, including a greater emphasis on attendance and enhanced parent engagement.”

Klamath Union High School continued its upward trend, graduating 100 students out of a 122-student adjusted cohort. The school’s four-year cohort graduation rate rose to 82%, up from 79.19% the year before, with a matching completer rate of 82%.

"KFCS is proud of the professional learning we’ve engaged in over the past three years, and even more proud of the incredible work our teachers are doing to put that learning into practice every day, resulting in real gains for students, as shown by our increased graduation rate throughout the district," Fred Bartels, KFCS Director of School Improvement said. "By strengthening instruction and expanding the supports students need, we are confident we will continue to see our graduation rate rise in the years ahead."

Klamath Union High School’s swim teams delivered a statement performance at the Skyline Championships, reclaiming conference titles on both the boys’ and girls’ sides through a combination of depth, discipline, and standout individual efforts. Competing against a strong field, the Pelicans finished first in the women’s standings with 170 points and captured the men’s title with 146 points, underscoring the program’s continued dominance at the conference level.

Senior leadership played a major role in the boys’ success, highlighted by Kamron Bouma’s explosive showing in sprint events. Bouma delivered one of the meet’s defining moments by winning the 50-yard freestyle in a school-record time of 22.47, breaking the previous mark of 22.69 set by Marich Sikes in 2013. 

In addition to his individual success, Bouma anchored both the 200 and 400 freestyle relays to first-place finishes and posted personal bests in butterfly events, further underscoring his impact on the Pelicans’ championship performance.

“It’s always an exciting feeling, putting your name on the board,” Bouma said. “I’ve been working for it for a long time and really wanted to get that record. Now it’s something I can be proud of, but also something to move past and keep improving.”

KU senior Max Hendricks played a pivotal role in the Pelicans’ success, earning first place in the 100 backstroke with a personal-best time of 1:00.06 while helping lead both freestyle relays to victories from the leadoff position. Hendricks said reclaiming the Skyline title after falling short last season carried added significance for him and his fellow senior swimmers.

“It’s fun to win, especially after losing it last year,” Hendricks said. “We’ve been one of the top programs for a long time, so getting it back our senior year feels good. Individually, you always want to perform well, but winning as a team is something special.”

Additional points came from strong performances by Jonas Southwell and Finley Chase, both of whom contributed to winning relay efforts while earning podium finishes in individual races. Together, the boys’ team showcased depth across multiple events, positioning themselves well heading into district competition.

The Klamath Union boys were also on the brink of another historic moment in the 200-yard freestyle relay, posting a season-best performance that finished just 0.7 seconds shy of the school record. Hendricks noted that the relay’s progress has been a major focus throughout the season, and the narrow margin highlighted how close the team is to rewriting the record books. 

With continued training and refinement heading into districts, Hendricks and his fellow swimmers believe the record is well within reach.

On the girls’ side, Klamath Union’s dominance was equally impressive, with multiple swimmers sweeping events and relays. Elsie Baumann captured first place in the 500 freestyle and helped lead winning efforts in the 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay, and 200 medley relay. Baumann credited the team’s chemistry and shared commitment for their continued success.

“It feels really good because we all work so hard and push each other,” Baumann said. “Seeing everyone succeed and watching all that effort pay off is really rewarding.”

Gretchen Lindecamp added to the Pelicans’ medal count with first-place finishes in the 200 freestyle and 100 breaststroke, while anchoring both freestyle relays to victories. Lindecamp acknowledged the pressure that comes with sustained success but said it has become a motivating force for the team.

“There’s definitely pressure when you’ve won before, but I think it pushes us to do our best,” Lindecamp said. “We enjoy competing with that expectation and continuing to live up to it.”

Other standout performances included Hazel Squibb’s pair of individual wins in the 50 and 100 freestyle, Elly Amos’ victories in the 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley, and Quinlynn Spivey’s runner-up finishes in freestyle and butterfly events.

On Wednesday, January 28, 2026, the newly reinstated FBLA Chapter at Eagle Ridge New Tech High School proudly competed in the 2026 FBLA Regional Competition held at Oregon Tech (OIT). This event marked an exciting milestone for the chapter as students showcased their skills, professionalism, and dedication on a regional stage.

Eagle Ridge was represented by Silas Perez, KK McCool, Will Taylor, Teresita Wright-Jackson, Gabe Webb, Noah Clayton, Marcus Estep, and Dominic Rose. The students delivered strong performances across multiple competitive events, earning several top placements and qualifications for the FBLA state competition.

The following students qualified to advance to the state competition in their respective events:

Gabe Webb earned 4th place in Introduction to Business Concepts and 5th place in Job Interview

Will Taylor earned 2nd place in Marketing and 3rd place in Job Interview

Silas Perez earned 9th place in Public Speaking

KK McCool earned 7th place in Public Speaking and 1st place in Job Interview

Teresita Wright-Jackson earned 4th place in Job Interview

Noah Clayton earned 2nd place in Job Interview and 1st place in Customer Service

With only two seniors and the rest of the chapter returning next year, the future of Eagle Ridge FBLA is incredibly bright. We are extremely proud of all our students for their hard work, commitment, and professionalism in representing Eagle Ridge New Tech High School. We wish our state qualifiers the very best of luck as they prepare to compete at the FBLA state competition.

This past week, 30 students from the Eagle Ridge New Tech High School Agriculture Science Program and the Ponderosa Middle School 8th Grade CTE Exploratory Wheel had the opportunity to visit S & R Sheep Ranch and Blessed Hope Goat Dairy for an incredible hands-on learning experience.

At S & R Sheep Ranch, students learned about the lambing process and gained practical experience vaccinating, banding, feeding, weighing, and recording data with Peggy Smith, one of the owner/operators. They also learned about basic sheep care and even enjoyed a bonus lesson on horse care with Breanna Signes.

At Blessed Hope Goat Dairy, Richard DeJong gave students a behind-the-scenes tour of the dairy. Students observed goats being milked, learned about the milking process and equipment, explored how goats are housed when not being milked, and discovered which dairy goat breeds are best suited in the Klamath Basin. They also learned about goat breeding and the kidding process.

The students’ favorite part? Getting to interact with the goats and seeing firsthand just how amazing they are.

A huge thank you to S & R Sheep Ranch and Blessed Hope Goat Dairy for sharing their time, knowledge, and passion for agriculture with our students!

Families at Klamath Early Childhood Development Center were welcomed into classrooms for a special morning of connection and learning during Donuts with Grownups, a family engagement event held before students were dropped off for the day.

Parents and families shared donuts and milk with their children while getting a firsthand look at how the school day begins. Donuts from Terry’s Donuts gave students a small sugar boost before heading into their regular school breakfast, adding an extra touch of excitement to the morning.

KECDC Assistant Director of Early Learning Joelene Grande said the event offered families a valuable opportunity to experience their child’s daily routine. “It is a great way for the parents to see their children in their classroom and how they start their day and interact with their classmates,” Grande said. “We had a lot of parents come this morning, have a chance to talk to their child’s teacher, and see what it is like here in the morning.”

In one classroom, KECDC instructor Michelangelo Luce began the day gathered with students on the carpet as parents looked on. Luce starts his class each morning by naming every student who is present, inviting them to stand and do a short dance while classmates clap and celebrate one another, setting a joyful and welcoming tone for the day ahead.

Students gathered for the Mills Elementary School January assembly to review schoolwide expectations, learn strategies for problem-solving and bullying prevention, and focus on this month’s character pillar: trustworthiness. The assembly also celebrated positive behavior, perfect attendance, and students who consistently demonstrate kindness and responsibility across campus. 

Mills Elementary School staff also performed a fun and engaging skit to model the importance of “Tell When It Happens,” showing students the difference between poor choices and positive responses at recess. The skit helped reinforce where students can go for help and how speaking up right away keeps everyone safe.

We want you!

Our school is lexpanding our exciting and growing Sports Broadcasting program, and we are looking for adult mentors with experience in the field who would like to help guide and inspire students.

If you have a background in sports broadcasting, media production, journalism, video editing, camera operation, audio production, live streaming, or related fields, we would love your support. Our students are learning how to run live game broadcasts—from play-by-play announcing and instant replay to camera work and pre-game shows—and having real-world professionals involved makes an incredible difference.

This is a chance to:

Share your expertise with motivated students

Help build a high-quality, professional-style broadcasting program

Mentor the next generation of broadcasters, storytellers, and media professionals

Be part of something exciting and impactful in our school community

Whether you can help occasionally or more regularly, your experience and guidance are needed and appreciated as we continue to grow this program.

Interested in helping?
Please contact Dan Stearns at 541-891-7511 or email stearnsd@kfalls.k12.or.us

Thank you for supporting our students and helping bring live sports broadcasting to the next level!

Cold and flu season is here ... please help us prevent the spread of viruses by doing these things at home, school, and work.

Steps you can take

Individuals can

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw used tissues in the trash. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands.

• Learn and use proper handwashing technique.

• Teach children the correct way to wash their hands.

• Clean frequently touched surfaces, such as countertops, handrails, and doorknobs regularly.

Information presented comes from the Center of Disease Control. Click this link for more information.

La temporada de gripe y resfriados ya está aquí. Ayúdenos a prevenir la propagación del virus haciendo estas cosas en casa, en la escuela y en el trabajo.

Las personas pueden:

• Cubrirse la boca y la nariz con un pañuelo desechable al toser o estornudar; botar los pañuelos desechables usados a la basura; y si no tienen un pañuelo de este tipo, toser o estornudar cubriéndose con el ángulo interno del codo, no con las manos.

• Aprender y usar la técnica correcta de lavado de manos.

• Enseñarles a los niños la forma correcta de lavarse las manos.

• Limpiar con regularidad las superficies que se tocan con frecuencia, como mesones, barandas y manijas de las puertas.

La información presentada proviene del Centro para el Control y Prevención de Enfermedades. Haga clic en este enlace para obtener más información.

KFCS Board of Education

Andrea Jensen, Zone 1, Roosevelt - andrea.jensen@kfcityschools.org

Andrew Biggs, Zone 2, At-Large - andrew.biggs@kfcityschools.org

Vanessa Bennett, Zone 3, Conger - vanessa.bennett@kfcityschools.org

Kathy Hewitt, Zone 4, Mills - kathy.hewitt@kfcityschools.org

Trina Perez, Zone 5, Pelican - trina.perez@kfcityschools.org

Kelsey Bitzer, Zone 6, At-Large - Bitzerk@kfcityschools.org

Nicole Trejo, Zone 7 At-Large - Trejon@kfcityschools.org

Notice of Nondiscrimination

Klamath Falls City Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status in its programs, activities, or employment practices. For more information, please visit our website at Nondiscrimination and Title IX webpage