Henry County Schools Four-Year Graduation Rate Reaches All-Time High of 92.3%

HENRY COUNTY, GA – Henry County Schools’ four-year graduation rate increased by 2.5 percentage points to an all-time high of 92.3% for the 2025-2026 school year, according to data the Georgia Department of Education released Sept. 28.

Of the 12 district high schools or academies enrolling high school students, nine improved upon last year’s graduation rates.

The district’s overall four-year graduation rate surpassed last year’s record high of 89.8%, and HCS continues to outperform the state graduation rate, which is a record 88.5% for the Class of 2026.

 “I commend our entire community – students, families, teachers, and staff – for their collaborative efforts that resulted in this impressive, historic graduation rate,” said Henry County Schools Superintendent Dr. John Pace III. “This improvement reflects our supportive school environments that prepare students for higher education, military service, or the workforce, demonstrating that bright futures begin in Henry County Schools.”

The data goes back 15 years, since Georgia began using the adjusted cohort calculation first required in 2011 by federal law. The district’s graduation rate is up by 19 percentage points over the inaugural calculation of 73.3% in 2011.

The four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate reflects the number of students who graduate in four years with a regular high school diploma, divided by the number of students in the adjusted cohort for the graduation class. The adjusted cohort is the number of students in the graduation class from the beginning of ninth grade, plus any students who transferred into the cohort during the next three years and minus any students who transferred out.

Six high schools reached historic high graduation rates using the adjusted cohort method: Dutchtown, Eagle’s Landing, Luella, McDonough, Ola, and Stockbridge.

HCS celebrated a total of 3,663 four-year graduates from its high schools in winter, spring, and summer commencements during the 2025-2026 school year, with graduation class sizes at the traditional high schools ranging from 274 at Hampton High School to 450 at Dutchtown High School.

Ten high schools saw four-year graduation rates higher than 90%, an increase from seven schools in 2025:

• Dutchtown High School (95.7%)
• Eagle’s Landing High School (90.2%)
• Hampton High School (92.3%)
• Impact Academy High School (94.4%)
• Locust Grove High School (92.6%)
• Luella High School (97.2%)
• McDonough High School (90.5%)
• Ola High School (96.7%)
• Union Grove High School (93.9%)
• Woodland High School (92.0%)

“Moving from an 86% to a 97.2% graduation rate over the past four years reflects what is possible when a school community refuses to accept that any student is beyond our reach,” Luella High School Principal Brandi Hardnett said. “This milestone belongs to staff who remained relentless; families who believed, advocated, and partnered with us; and students who trusted the process, persevered, and learned to see their possibilities beyond the finish line.”

EXCEL Academy achieved the greatest year-over-year improvement in graduation rates, increasing 6.6 percentage points from 2025 to 2026. 

Of the traditional high schools, McDonough High saw the largest increase in four-year graduation rates, rising 6.1 percentage points from 84.4% in 2025 to 90.5% in 2026.

“This achievement reflects our team’s intentional efforts to closely monitor student progress, identify barriers early, and ensure students and families have the support they need to stay on track and reach graduation,” McDonough High School Principal Dr. Monica Blasingame said. “This success reflects the collective commitment of our teachers, graduation coach, counselors, administrators, and support staff. We believe graduation is not just a senior year goal; it is a commitment we make to students throughout their high school experience. More than earning a diploma, it is about ensuring students are prepared for college, career, and life beyond high school. We are proud of this milestone and look forward to building on this momentum.”

Other school year-over-year graduation rate improvements included: Dutchtown (+3.3 percentage points), Eagle’s Landing (+2.7), Hampton (+1.1), Luella (+3.8), Ola (+1.8), Stockbridge (+5), and Woodland (+3.4).

Graduation rates increased from 2025 in every student group: Asian/Pacific Islander students (+0.5 percentage points), African American students (+1.7), Hispanic students (+6.9), multi-racial students (+9.9), white students (+0.5), economically disadvantaged students (+3.4), English learners (+4.7), and students with disabilities (+2).

“I am pleased to see this year’s historic graduation rate, underscoring the strong instructional and student support systems in place throughout Henry County Schools and the impact of our strategic initiatives,” said Board Chair Sophe Pope (Dist. 4). “This graduation rate is also the product of family and community involvement and investment in ensuring every graduate has the opportunity to succeed.”

The district’s 2021-2026 Community-Inspired Strategic Plan included successful programs increasing equitable access, college and career counseling, and mentorship opportunities. The 2026-2031 Community-Inspired Strategic Plan includes goals to increase literacy across all grade levels; increase mastery of standards in all content areas; and advance college, career, and life readiness.