ATLANTA — Georgia’s high school graduation rate rose significantly, from 72.5 percent in 2014 to 78.8 percent in 2015, and many north Georgia school systems - including Hall County and Gainesville City schools - outpaced the state average.
“The 2015 graduation rate shows that our schools are working harder and smarter than ever to ensure our students receive their diploma, something that affords them the opportunity to move on to postsecondary education, the military, or directly into a meaningful career,” said State School Superintendent Richard Woods in a press statement.
“I expect we will continue to see the graduation rate increase as we provide more personalized graduation plans with multiple paths to graduation.”
In Hall County, 83.7 percent of high schools seniors earned a diploma in the four year window; 79.5 percent of Gainesville seniors graduated in that time frame. Most schools in the surrounding counties, with the exception of Gwinnett and Barrow counties, had higher graduation rates than the state average.
“The 2015 graduation rate shows that our schools are working harder and smarter than ever to ensure our students receive their diploma, something that affords them the opportunity to move on to postsecondary education, the military, or directly into a meaningful career,” said State School Superintendent Richard Woods in a press statement.
“I expect we will continue to see the graduation rate increase as we provide more personalized graduation plans with multiple paths to graduation.”
In Hall County, 83.7 percent of high schools seniors earned a diploma in the four year window; 79.5 percent of Gainesville seniors graduated in that time frame. Most schools in the surrounding counties, with the exception of Gwinnett and Barrow counties, had higher graduation rates than the state average.
Hall County Schools Superintendent Will Schofield congratulated students and staff on the number in an email. He compared it to 2006, when he said the district's graduation rate was 67.5 percent.
"Through the creation of 25 charter schools and programs of choice, our teachers and leaders have worked tirelessly to support our students in finding their unique gifts and passions. Our work is not done. We want to ensure ALL of our students are life/college/job ready when they leave our district," Schofield stated in the email.
Gainesville City Schools officials said in a press release that the graduation rate at Woods Mill Academy remained stable, while the graduation rate at Gainesville High School increased from last year. The release stated that the rates were the result of "an intense focus on ensuring that all students have the opportunity to graduate in four years and a summer."
"We are so pleased with the outcomes achieved this past year through our students, teachers, and parents being committed to having our students graduate on time," Gainesville Schools Superintendent Dr. Wanda Creel stated.
You can see district graduation rates and individual school graduation rates here. DOE officials said the 2015 rate represents the fourth straight increase in the state’s graduation rate.
This is the fifth year Georgia has calculated the graduation rate using the adjusted cohort rate, which is now required by the U.S. Department of Education. The four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate defines the cohort based on when a student first becomes a freshman; it is calculated using the number of students who graduate within four years and includes adjustments for student transfers. In contrast, Georgia’s former graduation rate calculation defined the cohort upon graduation, which may have included students who took more than four years to graduate.
This is the first class not required to take the Georgia High School Graduation Test in order to receive a regular diploma, as Georgia moves away from a one-size-fits-all approach to graduation.
All states now calculate the graduation rate using the same formula, but each state still sets its own requirements for students to earn a diploma.
You can see district graduation rates and individual school graduation rates here. DOE officials said the 2015 rate represents the fourth straight increase in the state’s graduation rate.
This is the fifth year Georgia has calculated the graduation rate using the adjusted cohort rate, which is now required by the U.S. Department of Education. The four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate defines the cohort based on when a student first becomes a freshman; it is calculated using the number of students who graduate within four years and includes adjustments for student transfers. In contrast, Georgia’s former graduation rate calculation defined the cohort upon graduation, which may have included students who took more than four years to graduate.
This is the first class not required to take the Georgia High School Graduation Test in order to receive a regular diploma, as Georgia moves away from a one-size-fits-all approach to graduation.
All states now calculate the graduation rate using the same formula, but each state still sets its own requirements for students to earn a diploma.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/11/348461/state-graduation-rate-rises-more-than-6-points