Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Graduation Rates topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District reports 4-year graduation dip to 91.8% while 5-year rate hits historic 94.8%
Summary
Dr. Hayes told the Cherokee County Board of Education the district’s 4-year graduation rate slipped to 91.8% while the 5-year rate rose to a record 94.8%; SAT and ACT averages also ticked up, and the district is changing withdrawal verification to avoid miscounting dropouts.
Dr. Hayes reported to the Cherokee County Board of Education that the district’s 4-year graduation rate dipped to 91.8% this year, down from a historic 93.5%, while the 5-year graduation rate increased to a new high of 94.8% (up from 93.7%). “That 94.8 is a new, historic high for 5 year rate for the district,” Dr. Hayes said.
The presenter said every high school saw an increase in either its 4- or 5-year rate and that the district’s 4-year cohort rate remains roughly five percentage points above the state. He noted the board’s policy BAB requires adjustments when sufficient progress is not made and said the modest decline in the 4-year rate warrants attention and corrective steps.
Dr. Hayes explained the district is taking two tracks to support graduation: direct student supports (tutoring, credit recovery and classroom interventions) and improved data processes. To reduce the risk of students being misclassified as dropouts, school leadership and the technology team are extending the time schools have to collect withdrawal documentation and are expanding cohort monitoring to additional years.
On college-entrance testing, Dr. Hayes said the district’s average SAT rose by two points to 1,085 (on a 1,600 scale), and five high schools—Creekview, Etowah, iGrad, River Ridge and Sequoia—recorded gains. ACT results released this week showed a 0.3-point increase to an average of 22.8 (on a 1–36 scale); Dr. Hayes said three high schools (Etowah, River Ridge and Sequoia) improved and the district remains above both state and national means.
The superintendent and board thanked Dr. Hayes for the update. Dr. Hayes said the state accountability CCRPI report is expected in November or December, and staff will continue monitoring data and implementing the withdrawal-verification changes and school-level interventions discussed to support on-time graduation.
The board did not take formal action on the report during the work session; discussion focused on next steps for monitoring and data validation.
