Area school systems have released their recent graduation reports showing some gains at some schools while holding steady at others.
The graduation rate for students in the McDuffie County School System continues to climb, reaching yet another all-time high. The rate for the Class of 2025 rose to 95.6%, as measured by the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI), an increase of 4.3% over the Class of 2024, according to a news release from the McDuffie County School System.
“For the fifth consecutive year, the district has reached its highest graduation rate since the inception of the CCRPI accountability system in 2012. This also marks the eighth straight year that the McDuffie County graduation rate has increased over the previous year. The district’s rate is the highest in the CSRA RESA, the surrounding 11-county region of East-Central Georgia. It also outpaced the state rate of 87.2%, which was another all-time high,” the news release said.
“Our students and staff are so proud of the hard work that has gone into this tremendous increase,” said McDuffie County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mychele Rhodes. “But to us this isn’t simply an abstract number. This rate represents more of our community’s future leaders heading out into the world, ready to make a positive difference.”
In Richmond County, several schools showed increases.
The Richmond County School System reported maintaining last year’s historic high rate of 81.7% while “the school system also recorded historic highs for special education students, and Hephzibah and Westside comprehensive high schools also showed gains.”
Westside recorded the largest single-year gain in the school system with an 84.25% graduation rate, up 7.73% from the previous year, according to a news release.
“This is an incredible achievement for Westside,” said Dr. Tikki Middleton, principal of Westside. “To see an increase of more than seven percentage points in a single year shows what’s possible when we set high expectations and support students every step of the way.”
Hephzibah High Comprehensive School also recorded a milestone, reaching a record 84.43% graduation rate. The school increased its graduation rate for three consecutive years, surpassing last year’s rate of 82.5%.
“Congratulations to our dedicated faculty and staff of Hephzibah Comprehensive High School for achieving a record 84.43% graduation rate,” said Principal Christopher Nabahe. “Their continued commitment to student success and year-over-year growth is a testament to their hard work and excellence.”
George P. Butler Comprehensive High School and Lucy C. Laney Comprehensive High School also reported increases from the previous year. For Butler, this marks the third consecutive year of improvement, the news release continued.
A.R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet, John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet, and Richmond County Technical Career Magnet Schools maintained a 100% graduation rate.
In Columbia County School District graduated 92% of its high school students, according to the district.
Graduation rates reported by the Georgia Department of Education began using an adjusted cohort calculation in 2011.
Columbia County’s graduation rate is six percentage points higher than the state average of 87.2%. Columbia County saw a rate of 92.93 at Evans; 97.85 at Greenbrier; 89.07 at Grovetown; 91.81 at Harlem; and 93.21 at Lakeside.
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