(The Center Square) – Georgia’s high school graduation rate for 2024 is 85.4%, the highest since 2011 according to the Georgia Department of Education.
The rate is up from 84.4% in 2023 and up 18 percentage points since 2011, the department said Tuesday. The graduation rate was 67.4% in 2011.
One hundred and fifteen school districts have graduation rates above 90%. Forty-four districts are above 95%, the department said.
State officials use an adjusted cohort calculation to determine the graduation rate. The cohort is formed from students entering ninth grade and adjusted to include students who transfer in and transfer out in the next three years, according to the Department of Education.
Federal law has required the department to use the adjusted cohort calculation since 2011.
“I offer my congratulations to Georgia’s class of 2024 on this historic achievement,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said in a release. “These students faced great challenges throughout their school careers – they were in middle school when the pandemic hit in 2020. We have worked to provide the resources and supports needed to ensure they could still succeed and thrive, and we continue to see results showing that the efforts of Georgia’s educators, families, and all those who have taken the time to invest in students are paying off.”
It’s the second indication that Georgia students are recovering from the pandemic. Results from the Georgia Milestones test released last month and over the summer show improvements across all subjects.
The department said several initiatives are helping students graduate on time, including the expansion of Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education programs that give students the opportunity to prepare for careers while in high school. The department also started the GaTutor Program, which provides online tutoring sessions for high school students.
