Guilford County Schools’ Updated Cohort Graduation Rate

In 2006, GCS’ Graduation Rate was 74.02 Percent, Not 63.5 Percent as Originally Reported

According to the North Carolina State Department of Public Instruction (NC DPI), 74.02 percent of students graduated from Guilford County high schools in four years.

Weaver Academy’s graduation rate topped the charts with a 100 percent rate. Greensboro College Middle College followed closely behind at 97.56 percent. In fact, four of GCS’ six middle colleges graduated more than 85 percent of students.

In addition, nine of GCS’ traditional high schools graduated more than 75 percent of students, including Southern High, Southeast High and Andrews High.

This is the first year NC DPI has used the new cohort graduation rate, which tells how many students graduate from high school in four years or less. The new rate does not explain exactly how many students dropped out, considering some students need five years or more to graduate. In addition, students with disabilities may stay in high school four years, but leave with a Graduation Certificate or a Certificate of Achievement.

GCS recognizes there is still work to be done. “Our high schools are using a variety of strategies to improve the district’s graduation rates,” said Debra Barham, instructional improvement officer.
 
Strategies for improvement include:

• Individual “Student Success Plans” in cooperation with teachers and school staff to support academic options like credit recovery as well as improve participation in school activities
• Parent conferences and home visits to involve parents
• Monitor student attendance and provide support to improve problem attendance
• Student support sessions like the “Why Try Program” to help students plan for their future
• Comprehensive registration process to assure course selection and preparation for pathways

• Increased access for students to SATURN program
• Increased use of retired teachers and college tutors during school hours
• More effective use of benchmark data and increased training for teachers on data
• Increased training for teachers on ways to differentiate lesson delivery
• Increased opportunities before school and after school for extra student help
• Saturday opportunities for small group work

For a list of all Guilford County high schools, please click here.
For the state’s full report, please visit www.ncpublicschools.org.