Harris County schools report higher cohort graduation figures; district reviews AP and milestone results

Harris County — District curriculum staff reported to the Harris County Board of Education that preliminary cohort accounting shows an improved graduation picture for the most recent high school cohort and presented Advanced Placement and Georgia Milestones results that exceed state averages in several tested areas.

"As you know, at this time of the year, we present to you our numbers for our cohort withdrawal, which is how we figure in our high school graduation rate," Dr. Patterson told the board during the curriculum update. He said the district compares several data sources when tallying graduates and nongraduates, and noted a minor discrepancy between the state portal and the district student information system: "According to the GaDOE portal is 423. When we run Infinite Campus, we get 422. We'll go with what GaDOE has."

The presentation outlined how the cohort is built (all students who enter ninth grade become part of the cohort) and then reconciles who did not graduate in May. Patterson and colleagues said the district’s enrollment records list 581 students who should be part of the 2025 cohort. The slides the district shared list 426 students as having graduated on the district record; staff said they must account for every student who did not graduate with the cohort by category (withdrawn to another district, moved out of state or country, active but short credits, withdrawn for lack of attendance, GED, or unknown).

District staff explained which non‑graduation types count against the dropout figure: "If they are still active, meaning they didn't have the credits to graduate, if they were withdrawn due to lack of attendance, if they went to get their GED, then that is counted as dropout," Patterson said. He noted one student remained "unknown" despite efforts to contact family members.

Board members asked about homeschooled students and whether they can "walk" with Harris County High School graduates. Patterson said homeschooled students are generally withdrawn from the district and graduate under their homeschool program, but "they can walk" with the high school if the family opts in; he added the district is tracking legislative changes and will follow up with the board on whether any new law requires districts to offer that option.

The update also compared Harris County High School AP pass rates against state and global pass rates. "Harris County High School's AP scores greatly surpassed those at the state level and the global pass rate," Patterson said, while cautioning that international participation rates affect the global comparison. The board asked about a lower pass rate in one computer science course; Patterson said the course is a second‑semester offering and that course enrollment patterns affect pass-rate comparisons.

Board members and staff discussed a projected graduation-rate range; Dr. Patterson said the rate was expected to be "about 94 percent," and noted last year’s rate was slightly above 90 percent. The district credited careful documentation and registrar work for the improved projection.

District staff said they will continue reconciling records with GaDOE and Infinite Campus and will present finalized graduation figures when state reporting is complete.

The curriculum update was presented during the board’s regular agenda; no formal action on the cohort accounting was recorded in the transcript.