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Georgia’s High School Graduation Rate Continues to Increase

MEDIA CONTACT: Matt Cardoza, GaDOE Communications Office, (404) 651-7358, mcardoza@gadoe.org
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December 11, 2013 – Georgia’s 2013 public high school graduation rate increased almost two percentage points over the previous year – from 69.7 percent in 2012 to 71.5 percent in 2013 – and over four percentage points from 2011 (67.5 percent). This is the third year Georgia has calculated the graduation rate using the adjusted cohort rate formula.

“Under a more rigorous calculation method, the trend still shows that the percentage of our high school students graduating increases year to year,” said State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge. "Despite the economic challenges our districts are facing, we have more high school students graduating today than we ever have before, which is a testament to the hard work of our students and teachers. We must continue our progress to ensure all students cross the finish line, because without a high school diploma, their options are very limited.”
The four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate defines the cohort based on when a student first becomes a freshman. The rate 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 from high school.

The U.S. Department of Education requires all 50 states to use the cohort rate to calculate graduates.

 

 
 
 
2012 graduation rate

 

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