Hall County School District Wednesday announced an increase in graduation rates from the 2023 academic year, which also came in above the state average.
The Georgia Department of Education reported the graduation rate data earlier this week, which showed Hall County schools rise to a rate of 87.9%. That figure is up from the previous year of 87.3%, and increase of 0.6%, according to statistics provided by the county.
The average graduation rate in the Peach State in the academic year 2023 was 84.4%, presenting Hall County with a 3.5% edge over the statewide average.
“We just feel like it's a testament to the hard work and our commitment to excellence and student success,” Communications Director Stan Lewis said. “Mr. Schofield and the entire staff up here, it's part of our culture that we look at the graduation rate as a K through 12 initiative. It’s something that begins when kids enter school, it's not just a high school effort. It's all of us pulling together to get kids across the finish line.”
Hall County Superintendent Will Schofield agreed, hitting home the idea that the result of this increase is due in part to efforts seen throughout a student's entire time within the district.
“The increase in our graduation rate represents the collective efforts of our educators, administrators, students, and community partners … we will continue to look for ways to improve, ensuring that our students are well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead,” Schofield said.
One of the primary ways the county is improving student success is by providing them with the opportunities to dive into areas they are passionate about, according to Lewis.
“Our different career tech pathways — I think all of that gives kids a chance to feel like they're engaged in something purposeful and that meets their needs,” Lewis said.
The four-year graduation rate difference in Hall County has risen from 86.06% to 87.53%, an increase of 1.47%. Alternatively, the five-year graduation rate difference has seen a slight decline, from 89.70% to 88.54%, a difference of 1.16%.
A breakdown of the district's graduation rates school by school can be viewed in the above photo gallery.
