Putnam superintendent touts new schools under construction and sharp rise in on-time graduation rate
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Summary
Superintendent Rick Sernsey updated families on multiple new school projects in Putnam County and credited expanded CTE, Cambridge and STEM programs for a claimed jump to “almost a 97 percent” on-time graduation rate; the statistic is reported as his claim and was not independently verified at the meeting.
Rick Sernsey, superintendent of Putnam County schools, told parents at a district parent engagement meeting that several new school buildings are under construction and that the district’s on-time graduation rate has climbed dramatically.
Sernsey said Middleton Boerne Elementary will be ready for students in the 2026 school year and described three other projects under way: Palatka Intermediate (grades 3–6) opening this fall, a Palatka Primary (K–2) due the following year, and a Melrose elementary project on the west side of the county. He also said the high school renovation is being built while portions remain occupied and that the district has opened CTE (career-and-technical education) wings such as welding and automotive facilities.
The superintendent linked the improvements to expanded academic options and career-focused programs and said the district has focused on making coursework relevant. “This past year in 2025, 10 years after that 55 percent graduation rate, we had almost a 97 percent graduation rate in Putnam County,” Sernsey said. He added that the district’s growth in graduation rates ranked first nationally for improvement over the past decade (a claim he presented at the meeting).
The district also highlighted programs that let students earn college credit and career skills, naming the Cambridge program and aeronautics and STEM offerings that Sernsey said help students graduate on time and prepare for jobs. He invited families to upcoming tours of the new Middleton Boerne facility once construction is complete.
The graduation figures and the assertion of national rank were presented by the superintendent during his remarks; meeting discussion did not include independent verification or source documents for those claims. No formal board action or vote occurred during the session; the remarks were informational and intended for family engagement and community update.
Looking ahead, the district said it will continue construction phasing and share tour dates with families when the facilities are ready.
