Conyers, Ga. – Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) achieved an all-time high graduation rate of 88.75% with the Class of 2024, eclipsing last year’s highest ever since the state began calculating the federally required four-year graduation cohort rate – and topped the state average, which came in at 85.4 %. The Georgia Department of Education recently released the 2024 Four-Year Cohort Graduation Rates for Georgia and RCPS increased its rate by 1.71 percentage points over last year’s 87.04%.
“I am very pleased with our increased 4-Year Cohort Graduation Rate,” said Superintendent Dr. Terry Oatts. “Our steady gains affirm that we are graduating more students within four years who are successful pathway completers with defined skillsets and prepared to be successful in college and careers. I am particularly proud that our graduates exceeded the state’s graduation rate.”
“I want to thank our teachers, high school principals, school counselors, graduation coaches, Assistant Superintendent for High Schools Dr. Sherri Freeman, and our amazing graduating seniors in the Class of 2024 and their parents for this record-breaking graduation rate. I thank the Rockdale County Board of Education for their support of our district’s continuous improvement efforts as reflected within our district’s 5-Year Strategic Plan and our district’s strategic priorities,” said Oatts.
“What a great accomplishment to add to our list of recent improvements and accolades,” said Rockdale County Board of Education Chairwoman Pam Brown. “We keep getting better and better because our students, staff and families continue to strive for excellence, and they are doing the hard work it takes to get there. As Board Chairwoman and as a parent, I am so proud of our school system. I appreciate Dr. Oatts for his leadership and everyone who played a part in breaking last year’s record to create our new highest ever graduation rate. Congratulations to all!”
The RCPS graduation rate has increased by more than 12 percentage points since 2012, when Georgia began calculating the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate as required by federal law.
How Georgia calculates its graduation rate:
• The number of students who graduate in four years with a regular high school diploma, divided by
• The number of students who form the adjusted cohort for the graduating class.
The adjusted cohort rate means from the beginning of ninth grade, students who are entering that grade for the first time form a cohort that is subsequently adjusted by adding any students who transfer into the cohort during the next three years and subtracting any students who transfer out.