Press Release
BARTOW COUNTY, Ga. (September 19, 2018) – Bartow County’s overall graduation rate continues to climb in 2018, rising to 87.1 percent from 83.4 percent in 2017. That highly anticipated and newly released number also exceeds the state graduation rate by 5.5 percent.
“That’s a testament to our conscientious system leaders, building leadership teams, teachers, and students,” says Superintendent Dr. Phillip Page. “The amount of hard work that went into that record-breaking year is impressive and I’m confident graduation numbers will continue to increase as we work on collaboration and closing instructional gaps for all of our students.”
Not only did Bartow County’s overall high school graduation rate rise to an all-time high, so did Adairsville High School’s individual graduation rate. This year, AHS boasts a 91.2 percent graduation rate, compared to 84 percent in 2017. AHS Principal Bruce Mulkey credits his school’s new graduation rate to an increase in course options and pathways and exceptional commitment from his teachers and Guidance Department.
“In 2013, our graduation rate was 66 percent and our staff made a commitment that it would change,” said Principal Mulkey. “Every teacher bought into the processes we established and I’ve watched them pour their hearts and souls into our students to make it happen. The strength of our building has always been our teachers’ ability to build relationships with students. They know their students on a personal level and are truly invested in them.”
Personal relationships are not limited to the classroom, says Principal Mulkey, as he notes his close-knit Guidance Department. Staff members changed their protocols and procedures for monitoring students’ progress toward graduation, as well as improving student attendance.
“The system has also done a really good job at providing more options for students who may not be interested in a traditional high school experience,” adds Principal Mulkey. “We continue to add programs at the College and Career Academy that expose these students to options they’ve not had in the past and our partnership with Mountain Education Charter High School allows students the opportunity to earn a diploma who are not able to attend school during traditional hours.”
Cass High School also saw gains in 2018, as their graduation rate rose slightly to 88.7 percent from 88.1 percent in 2017.
“We are proud to see Cass High consistently among the top performing schools in this category,” says CHS Principal Stephen Revard. “It truly demonstrates the commitment of our teachers, staff, and parents towards the overall success of our students. Also, it is a testament to the hard work that is done in the classroom by our students as they prepare for a productive life after high school.”
Woodland High School follows suit and raises their graduation rate by 3.4 percent. Their current graduation rate is now 82.8 percent.
“We are definitely excited that our rate has increased from last year and is back on an upward trend,” says WHS Principal Wes Dickey. “We will celebrate this success with our Wildcat Family, however, we realize that there is still much room for improvement. We will continue to focus on making Woodland High School an engaging place where students want to go to school each and every day. As we increase our daily student attendance and build positive relationships with all members of our Wildcat Family, we will create the opportunity for the graduation rate to continue to improve.”
The state of Georgia uses the adjusted cohort calculation as required by federal law to determine
graduation rates. This rate is the number of students who graduate in four years with a regular high school diploma divided by the number of students who form the adjusted cohort for the graduating class.
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