Immediate Release
August 2, 2012
Contact: Bonnie Reidy
Chief Communications Officer
704-866-6118
704-867-1711, Evenings and Weekends
e-mail: breidy@gaston.k12.nc.us

 

Gastonia, N.C. – Gaston County Schools’ cohort graduation rate increased to 77.8 percent in 2012, the highest four-year graduation rate ever reported for GCS according to results released today by the State Board of Education. 

 

The cohort graduation rate is the percent of ninth graders who entered high school in 2008-2009 and graduated four years later in June 2012.  Gaston County Schools’ average graduation rate climbed to 77.8 from 75.4 last year. 

 

Some students require a fifth year of high school in order to complete graduation requirements. The district’s five-year cohort graduation rate for the students who entered the ninth grade in 2007-08 (Class of 2011) was 78.2, up from 74.8 last year.

 

Since the State Board of Education released the first cohort graduation rate in 2005-2006, GCS high schools average graduation rate has improved 9.7 points from 68.1 in 2006 to 77.8 today.   


The graduation rate is not the same as the dropout rate, which is the number of students who dropout in a given year.
 
Superintendent L. Reeves McGlohon said, “This is our highest graduation rate ever and the fourth consecutive year that our rate has increased.  We applaud our schools staffs, students, parents and support personnel for their hard work.  We’re definitely pleased that our graduation rate continues to improve each year.  This is what we are looking for the continuous steady increases.”   McGlohon continues, “But, as I said before, our goal is to see every student graduate and be successful, and we intend to do everything possible to ensure this happens.”  

 

2011-2012 Graduation Rate Highlights: 

  • The countywide four-year cohort graduation rate increased over last year.  The district’s average graduation rate was 77.8.  This is up from 75.4 last year. 
  • Since 2006 when the state released the first cohort graduation rate, GCS has climbed 9.7 points, from 68.1 to 77.8.  
  • The four-year graduation rate increased at all nine high schools. 
  • Ashbrook saw the greatest gains with a 6.7 point increase over last year. 
  • Highland had a 100 percent graduation rate, the highest in the state. 
  • The Early College students graduate in five years because they receive an Associate Arts degree.  In 2013, the first class will graduate from the Early College. 
  • The five-year cohort graduation rate also increased to 78.2, up from 74.8 last year.

 

See attached cohort graduation rate charts.