The year before ToniJo Niccoli started as the assistant principal at St. Vrain Valley’s alternative high school, fewer than 15% of the students had graduated in four years.

Niccoli, who is now in her ninth year at New Meridian High School and her fifth year as principal, was part of a schoolwide effort to improve the on-time graduation rate. For the class of 2024, close to 90% graduated on time, while the dropout rate was less than 3%. Along with New Meridian, she oversees the district’s Career Elevation and Technology Center, which offers eight technical education program pathways.

“It’s about creating the opportunity and getting the students to believe in themselves so they take the opportunity,” she said. “There’s so much excitement in students coming in to our school. They’re saying

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