Gaston’s graduation rate increases to 88 percent
Two schools – Gaston Early College and Highland – earn a perfect rate of 100 percent
Gaston County Schools’ graduation rate for the Class of 2020 is 88 percent, according to information released on September 2 by the North Carolina State Board of Education. The rate of 88 percent is 3.1 points higher than last year.
This year, all 11 high schools achieved a graduation rate that exceeds 80 percent, and seven schools – Ashbrook, Cherryville, Stuart W. Cramer, Forestview, Gaston Early College, Highland, and South Point – have a rate that is higher than 90 percent. For the second year in a row, the Gaston Early College High School and Highland School of Technology earned a perfect graduation rate of 100 percent.
“We are very pleased to see an increase in our graduation rate, and we applaud our schools for their efforts to ensure that students graduate from high school and receive their diploma,” stated Superintendent of Schools W. Jeffrey Booker. “The graduation rate is an important factor that measures student success, and we are proud to see our schools making progress in this area.”
Compared to last year, Hunter Huss (+5.0), Stuart W. Cramer (+4.3), Bessemer City (+4.1), Ashbrook (+3.7), and East Gaston (+3.1) had the most substantial gains. Three schools have experienced a steady and significant increase in graduation rates over a three-year period: Hunter Huss (+7.6), North Gaston (+4.8), and South Point (+3.0).
Called the four-year cohort graduation rate, it reflects the percentage of students who entered the ninth grade in 2016-2017 and graduated four years later in June 2020. When the state first calculated the four-year cohort graduation rate in 2005-2006, Gaston County’s rate was a mere 68.1 percent.
In 2017-2018, the state changed how the graduation rate is calculated, which resulted in lower rates for schools. Previously, the rate was based primarily on the initial number of ninth grade students who created the cohort. Students who enrolled in a school, but were not part of the school’s initial cohort, were included in the calculation only if they were on schedule to graduate in four years. Now, all students, regardless of circumstances, are included in a school’s cohort.
Dr. Booker added, “Prior to the state changing the way it calculates the graduation rate, Gaston County Schools recorded its highest graduation rate ever of 88.3 percent. When the state made the changes, many school districts saw a drop in the graduation rate. So, it is encouraging to see this year’s rate of 88.0 percent – which is determined by using the calculation practices that were put into place in 2017-2018 – getting close to our all-time high of 88.3 percent. Still, our goal is for every school to have a graduation rate of 100 percent, and we want to continue our progress toward seeing that happen.”
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.
Below are graduation rate highlights for the Class of 2020
▪ This year’s graduation rate for Gaston County Schools is 88.0 percent. The Class of 2020 included 2,214 graduates.
▪ The rate of 88.0 percent is an increase of 3.1 points when compared to last year’s rate of 84.9 percent.
▪ Gaston County’s rate of 88.0 percent is higher the statewide rate of 87.6 percent.
▪ The graduation rate exceeds 80 percent for all 11 high schools, and the rate exceeds 90 percent for seven schools (Ashbrook, Cherryville, Stuart W. Cramer, Forestview, Gaston Early College, Highland, and South Point).
▪ The Gaston Early College High School and Highland School of Technology achieved a perfect graduation rate of 100 percent. The two schools also had a 100 percent graduation rate last year.
▪ The most significant increases in the graduation rate when compared to last year are Hunter Huss (+5.0), Stuart W. Cramer (+4.3), Bessemer City (+4.1), Ashbrook (+3.7), and East Gaston (+3.1).
▪ Three schools have experienced a steady and significant increase in graduation rates over a three-year period: Hunter Huss (+7.6), North Gaston (+4.8), and South Point (+3.0).
▪ In 2017-2018, the state changed the way it calculates the graduation rate. Therefore, the graduation rates for the Classes of 2018, 2019, and 2020 are not necessarily comparable to the years prior to 2017-2018.
Click here for a chart that includes the graduation rates for each high school over a three-year period.
