Georgia’s graduation rate has reached an all-time high — jumping from 80.6 percent in 2017 to 81.6 percent in 2018. Beyond that, 74 of the state’s school districts recorded 2018 graduation rates at or above 90 percent.
“Georgia’s graduation rate continues to rise because our public-school students have access to more opportunities than ever before,” said State School Superintendent Richard Woods. “From Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education to dual enrollment to the fine arts, there is an unprecedented emphasis on supporting the whole child and making sure every single student understands the relevance of what they’re learning. I’m confident we’ll continue to see these gains as long as we’re still expanding opportunities that keep students invested in their education.”
According to information released Wednesday by the state’s school chief, Georgia calculates a four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate as required by federal law. This rate is the number of students who graduate in four years with a regular high school diploma divided by the number of students who form the adjusted cohort for the graduating class.
From the beginning of ninth grade, students who are entering that grade for the first time form a cohort that is subsequently “adjusted” by adding any students who transfer into the cohort during the next three years, and subtracting any students who transfer out.
While all states use the same calculation, each state sets its own requirements for students to earn a regular high school diploma. Georgia has some of the highest requirements in the nation for students to graduate with a regular diploma.
Looking around the state, Cobb County’s graduation rate for the class of 2018 was slightly higher than the class of 2017, while the rate at Marietta High School seniors fell compared to the previous year. Cobb’s graduation rate for the 2017-18 school year of 85.2 percent was 1.6 percentage points higher than the previous year’s rate of 83.6 percent.
Fulton County Schools held a steady rate at above the state average at 86.6 percent, and Atlanta had a 79.9 percent graduation rate. Gwinnett County schools had a graduation rate of 81.7 percent, and DeKalb was at 75 percent.
Georgia Graduation Rates – 2012 to 2018
2018 – 81.6 percent
2017 – 80.6 percent
2016 – 79.4 percent
2015 – 79.0 percent
2014 – 72.6 percent
2013 – 71.8 percent
2012 – 69.7 percent
