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HCS Continues to Surpass State’s Historically High Graduation Rate

HENRY COUNTY, GA – Districtwide and school-level graduation rates for Henry County Schools continue to outpace the state, according to data released Oct. 8 by the Georgia Department of Education.

Georgia’s four-year 2024 graduation rate rose to 85.4%, an all-time high since the state began using the adjusted cohort calculation first required by federal law in 2011. The state’s historic graduation rate represents a 1 percentage point increase over last year’s high of 84.4%.

Henry County Schools’ overall four-year graduation rate of 86.8% surpassed the state’s by 1.4%.

A total of 3,433 HCS students graduated in the Class of 2024, with the number of graduates from each of the district’s traditional high schools ranging from 324 to 465.

“These figures reflect graduates who transitioned from middle school to high school at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and faced unique challenges in reaching graduation,” said Superintendent Dr. John Pace III. “I am confident that as the district continues to implement academic and holistic solutions for students, including mental health and wellness support, we will see even greater improvement in our four-year graduation rates.”

Four high schools saw more than 90% of seniors graduate in four years and are among the eight HCS schools with graduation rates that exceeded the state’s overall mark. They include Ola High School (94.4%), Union Grove High School (93.0%), Hampton High School (91.8%), Dutchtown High School (90.5%), Luella High School (87.1%), McDonough High School (87.1%), Eagle’s Landing High School (86.8%), and Woodland High School (86.2%).

Of these schools, five saw increases over their 2023 graduation rates, with McDonough High School showing the most significant growth at 4.5%, followed by Hampton High (2.7%), Union Grove High (+1.1%), Luella High (+1.05%), and Ola High School (+1.0%).

Student groups across the district also showed notable performance, including:

  • At 94.7%, HCS outpaced the statewide graduation rate among Asian/Pacific Islanders by 0.3 percentage points.
  • At 87.7%, HCS outpaced the statewide graduation rate among Black/African American students by 3.7 percentage points.
  • At 85.8%, HCS outpaced the statewide graduation rate among students identified as economically disadvantaged by 2.8 percentage points.
  • At 85.1%, HCS outpaced the statewide graduation rate among Hispanic students by 4.1 percentage points.
  • At 78.8%, HCS outpaced the statewide graduation rate among students with disabilities by 3.4 percentage points.
  • At 76.5%, HCS outpaced the statewide graduation rate among English Learners by 6 percentage points.

There were also year-over-year districtwide increases among student groups, including Hispanic students (from 82.81% to 85.1%), English Learners (from 70.75% to 76.5%), and students with disabilities (from 77.66% to 78.8%).

“Our teachers, leaders, and support staff continue to do a remarkable job to ensure we prepare students districtwide for college, career, and life,” said Board Chair Sophe Pope (Dist. 4). “As the district persists in empowering all students and ensuring every child has access to a high-quality, world-class education, we will not only see improvements in the number of graduates but also in their readiness to take advantage of the opportunities that await them.”

 Click here for the Georgia Department of Education’s press release and access to school- and district-level data across the state.

About Henry County Schools 

Henry County Schools (HCS) is the eighth-largest school district in Georgia, consisting of 53 schools and located about 20 minutes south of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Over the past two decades, our community has grown in population from 113,000 residents to over 244,000 residents. Since 1999, student enrollment has grown from 21,000 to 43,000 students, and our number of employees has grown from 3,000 to 6,000.

HCS is “In Pursuit of Exceptional,” taking action to advance opportunities, access, and outcomes so that every student in our school district has Exceptional Support, Exceptional Access, and an Exceptional Future. In 2020, our Board of Education adopted our 2021-2026 Community-Inspired Strategic Plan and laid out a clear vision and mission for Henry County Schools. Our vision is to ensure a high-quality, world-class education for every student, and our mission is to empower all students with exceptional opportunities and access that lead to success in a global society.

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