Manatee graduation rate rises to 85.7%; district outlines credit-recovery, schedule pilots to sustain gains

The School Board of Manatee County heard on Jan. 21 that the district'wide graduation rate for the Class of 2024 rose to 85.7%, up from 82.3% the previous year.

Superintendent Doctor Weisong and district staff told the board the increase was confirmed by the Florida Department of Education's Jan. 9 data release and reflected work at both district and school levels to identify students at risk and expand nontraditional pathways to a standard diploma.

District presenters said the figure covers students who earned a standard diploma within four years of entering 9th grade; it does not include students who pursue GEDs or other nonstandard credentials. Staff emphasized how transfers, student mobility and students with disabilities affect cohort counts and the headline rate. The district has the state subgroup breakdowns and said it will provide more detailed subgroup data on request.

The presentation, led by district leaders who have coordinated the graduation-rate work, credited several changes for the…