Georgia’s Graduation Rate Continues to Rise in 2019

Georgia’s high school graduation rate increased again in 2019, rising to 82 percent – an all-time high since the state began using the adjusted cohort calculation now required by federal law.

Georgia’s graduation rate has increased by 12 percentage points since 2012, with steady increases each year.

In 2019, 71 Georgia school districts recorded graduation rates at or above 90 percent.
Twenty-four districts recorded rates at or above 95 percent.

“I’m proud today of Georgia’s teachers and students, who are doing the on-the-ground work that leads to increases in our graduation rate and other indicators – including NAEP and Georgia Milestones scores,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “Moving forward, we must continue to focus on offering a relevant education and preparing every child for their future – not a one-size-fits-all system that sends every student in the same direction, but a tailored and personalized pathway based on a student’s academic and career interests and future goals.”

In Franklin County, the 2019 graduation rate was 90.7 percent.  That means that out of a class of 259 students, 235 graduated.

Franklin County School Superintendent Chris Forrer said while the graduation rate is improving, there area areas he would like to see improved in Franklin County schools generally.

“I think we need to do a better job of what we’re doing with higher-achieving students,” he said. “If you look at our level-four kids, who are our distinguished learners and how that compares to the State, we are far below where we should be.  So, what are we going to do for those students?”

Forrer said he would like to see more high school classes taught in the middle school and more dual-enrollment classes for high school students to accelerate learning for those students.

“Also, we have to do something about our literacy. We have a high percentage of students who are not reading at grade level and I think that’s something we need to attack as well,” Forrer said.

Forrer said making those improvements and others is one reason he’s holding the series of public meetings next month.

In Hart County, the graduation rate last year was 94.9 percent, which means that out of a class size of 234, 222 students graduated.

Georgia calculates a four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate as required by federal law.
That rate is calculated by 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.