According to the National Campaign to Prevent teen Pregnancy, rates have dropped between 1991 and 2005.

Ohio ranks 28 in the country, while West Virginia ranks 35.

Battling those numbers isn't only a challenge for parents, educators take on the task, too.

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MORE RESOURCES

Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Initiative
The National Campaign
Ohio Department Of Health

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Keeping teen parents in the classroom isn't always easy.

Parenthood and teen sex are ideas some kids are getting used to but most adults are not.

Indian Creek heath teacher Erin DeSantis said, "Basically in this society everything is acceptable. If students feel that way, we have to try and get through to them that there are consequences."

"I teach abstinence. I think that's basically the only way to go for high school students," said DeSantis.

Across the Ohio Valley some teens are choosing sex and many are forced to deal with the consequence of parenthood.

"I've had several students tell me that it's changed their life forever," said DeSantis. "They didn't realize the responsibility of, you know, getting up in the middle of the night. "

The number of pregnancies for 15-to 17-year-olds decreased significantly in almost every Ohio Valley county from 1999 to 2005.

Despite the decrease, there are still students who are faced with parenthood, and that's where local educators come in.

Indian Creek Principal Steve Cowser said, "Our goal is that they get an education and can graduate."

With the help from Jefferson County's Grads program, there are classes catered to four specific areas of self-esteem, pregnancy, parenting and economic independence.

Grads teacher Marsha Durish said, "Some are scared, some are nervous. It's important that they're not only educated academically but that they learn life skills."

Durish said their efforts are evident and in 20 years of work she's seen a drastic difference.

Durish noticed less teen parents and more staying in school.

No matter what the students’ choices, satisfaction for educators comes when the student gets their diploma.