Georgia’s high school graduation rate increased in 2018, rising to 81.6 percent from 80.6 percent in 2017, according to the Georgia Department of Education.
This is an all-time high for Georgia’s graduation rate since the state began using the adjusted cohort calculation now required by federal law, GDOE officials said. Seventy-four Georgia school districts recorded 2018 graduation rates at or above 90 percent.
The Liberty County School System high school graduation rate has increased from 82.1 percent in 2017 to 84.98 percent in 2018, meeting all seven of the applicable performance targets. Liberty County High School increased from 82.5 percent in 2017 to 88.9 percent in 2018. Bradwell Institute had a slight decrease from 83.2 percent in 2017 to 82.04 percent in 2018. Both high schools continue to out-perform the state. The district as a whole exceeded the Georgia average by 3.38 percentage points.
“We are appreciative of the hard work demonstrated by students and staff on a daily basis and the support provided by all stakeholders,” Liberty County School Superintendent Dr. Franklin Perry said. “We will continue to make our graduation rate a top priority. Our goal remains that all students in Liberty County schools will graduate with a high quality education.”
“Georgia’s graduation rate continues to rise because our public-school students have access to more opportunities than ever before,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “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.”
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.
Georgia graduation rates for 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