Students in Northeast Georgia are graduating at higher rates than other areas in Georgia.

Of the 10 local high schools, nine of the schools students graduated at higher rates than the Georgia average.

Overall high school graduation rates increased in 2019 for Barrow, Clarke, Jackson, Madison and Oconee counties. Oconee County High School students had the highest graduation rate at 98%, while Classic City High School students had the lowest rate at 52.2%.

Both Jackson and Oconee counties had graduation rates above 95%; this puts the districts among the 24 districts with rates above 95%, according to the Georgia Department of Education.

“We are thrilled to see these results,” said Superintendent April Howard in a statement from Jackson County School District. “They clearly demonstrate the impact of the leadership of our faculty and staff on the performance of our students.”

 

Georgia’s overall graduation rate has been increasing the last couple of years. Since 2012, the graduation rate has increased from 69.7% to 82%.

Karly Reece is a senior majoring in journalism in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia. Reece is also pursuing a minor in sport management and a certificate from the New Media Institute.