Henry Grady High School. Image via Wikimedia Commons

Atlanta Public Scools (APS) announced today they’ve hit their highest ever graduation rate – 79.9 percent. This is a 2.9 percent gain over 2017, and a 20.8 percent increase from 2014’s numbers. Since 2014, APS has worked aggressively to help more students graduate by offering alternative approaches to earning and recovering credits and improving data tracking and transcript auditing processes, they said in an announcement of the achievement.

“We continue to be encouraged by the steady increase in our District’s graduation rate,” APS Superintendent Meria Carstarphen, said in a statement. “These increases not only speak to the academic achievements of our students, but also to the positive impact of the work happening in our schools by our staff and the investments we continue to make in our transformation strategy. Every child matters and while we celebrate the gains, we know there’s still work to be done to ensure that every student graduates prepared to succeed in college and career.”

APS Graduation Rates from 2014 to 2018. Graph via APS materials.

The number of one-time graduates hit a new high – 2,438, which is 82 more than last year, according to APS materials, which were taken from 2018 graduation data released today by the Georgia Department of Education. Additionally, significant gains were made by students with disabilities, up 5.0 percentage points to 60.5 percent, and African-American students, up 3.7 percentage points to 78.2 percent.

Six schools had graduation rates greater than 90 percent: Drew Secondary (98.7 percent), Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy (93.5 percent), North Atlanta High School (92.5 percent), Grady High School (92 percent), Carver Early College (91.8 percent), and KIPP Collegiate (90.2 percent), according to APS materials.

“So much of our students’ academic success is tied to social emotional learning, where students learn to set goals, overcome obstacles, and develop healthy, supportive relationships,” Carstarphen said. “This means since 2014, we have worked to make schools more welcoming environments for students by investing in whole child learning so that students acquire the critical skills needed for success in college, career and life.”