Gaston’s graduation rate increases again; now at 88.3 percent
Rate rises for the eighth consecutive year and is above the state average
Once again, the high school
graduation rate for Gaston
County Schools has increased,
according to information
released by the North Carolina
State Board of Education. The
graduation rate for the Class
of 2017 is 88.3 percent, which
is the highest rate ever for the
school district.
of 88.2. The five-year cohort
graduation rate reflects the
number of students who
entered the ninth grade in
2012-2013 and graduated in
2017.
Here is a look at several
graduation rate highlights:
n This year’s graduation
rate (88.3 percent) is the
highest ever for Gaston County
Schools.
Gaston’s graduation rate
has increased each year for the
past eight years. The Gaston
rate of 88.3 percent is higher
than the state graduation rate
of 86.5 percent.
n Gaston’s rate of 88.3
percent is higher than the state
graduation rate of 86.5 percent.
Eight high schools have a
graduation rate that exceeds 90
percent. Three years ago, only
four high schools were higher
than 90 percent.
Called the four-year cohort
graduation rate, it reflects
the percentage of students who entered the ninth grade in 2013-
2014 and graduated four years later in June 2017. The 2017 rate is
higher than last year’s mark of 88.0 percent, and since the state first
calculated the graduation rate in 2005-2006, Gaston County Schools
has increased 20.2 points from 68.1 to 88.3 percent.
“We are extremely pleased to see our graduation rate increase
again – this is a significant accomplishment for Gaston County
Schools,” said Superintendent of Schools W. Jeffrey Booker. “Our
steady increase over the years is a result of teache rs, administrators,
parents, counselors, nurses, social workers, and other student
support personnel working together to ensure that students graduate
from high school.”
Programs that focus on academics, attendance, dropout
prevention, character education, behavior/discipline, and counseling/
mental health services help the school district’s efforts to keep
students in school and on track for graduation.
“A high school diploma is so important because it unlocks the door
to the future for our students. That is why our ultimate goal is to
have a 100 percent graduation rate, and we will continue to work to
see more students walk across the graduation stage,” added Booker.
“To have our graduation rate increase for the eighth consecutive year
shows that we are moving in the right direction toward our goal.”
It is important to note that the four-year graduation rate is not
the same as the dropout rate, which indicates the number of students
who drop out of high school in a given year.
Some students need an extra year of high school to complete
graduation requirements. The district’s five-year cohort graduation
rate is 89.2 percent, which is higher than last year’s five-year rate
n Since the state first
reported the graduation rate in
2005-2006, Gaston’s rate has
increased 20.2 points (from
68.1 to 88.3 percent).
n Eight high schools have
a graduation rate that exceeds 90 percent – Ashbrook, Cherryville,
Stuart W. Cramer, East Gaston, Forestview, Gaston Early College,
Highland, and South Point. Three years ago, only four high schools
were higher than 90 percent.
n The Highland School of Technology has a 100 percent graduation
rate. Highland consistently ranks as having one of the highest
graduation rates in the state.
n Bessemer City (+5.5 points), East Gaston (+4.0 points), and
Cherryville (+3.4 points) had the most significant gains over last
year.
n Over the past five years, Bessemer City had the most significant
gain, increasing 22.7 points from 62.8 percent in 2012-2013 to 85.5
percent in 2016-2017. Hunter Huss and East Gaston also achieved
double-digit gains over a five-year period.
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Parent Teacher Magazine• November/December 2017• 5