AUGUSTA — A three-year-old dropout prevention program was given an award by Maine Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen during a Blaine House ceremony Tuesday morning.

Bowen honored Lewiston High School Principal Gus LeBlanc for the so-called Lewiston Academy, as well as educators from Bonny Eagle High School, Windham High School and the Maine Academy of Natural Sciences for going above and beyond in their work or volunteerism to make a difference in the lives of students at risk of dropping out.

Bowen was joined by co-chairmen of the State Advisory Committee on Truancy, Dropout and Alternative Education.

Lewiston Academy began in the spring of 2010. It provides an alternative, smaller setting to traditional high school. Classes are held at a downtown location during the day, and at the high school after the regular school day ends.

Lewiston Academy helps 25 to 30 students a year graduate, Superintendent Bill Webster said. Some graduate in June; others at a small ceremony in August.

“Lewiston Academy students have not been successful in the traditional school environment,” Webster said. Providing students with smaller classes in locations other than the big high school, or classes at school when the traditional day is done, has helped students, he said. “I’m very pleased with our success there,” he said. “Lewiston Academy is a great example about how students have been more successful as we provide them more pathways.”

To help more students stay in school and graduate, Lewiston this year has started an alternative program at the middle school, a “Dingley School” program for suspended students in Webster’s administrative office building. Lewiston also sends numerous students to Auburn’s Franklin Alternative School and another program in Poland.

Last year, numbers showed that Lewiston’s four-year graduation rate is the third lowest in Maine, but it is improving. In 2011, Lewiston’s graduation rate was 66.15 percent, in 2012 it was 71.06 percent.

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