Students Who Graduate from High School on Time

Measure

Percent of students who entered 9th grade in a given year and received a Regular Diploma four years later.


Why is this indicator important?

High School Graduation is an indicator of lifetime earning opportunity and employment potential.  High school completion is critical to social and economic independence.  In order for a society to be active and involved, its citizens must be educated and informed. 

As skill demands increase in the workforce, people without a high school diploma will have a more difficult time finding employment or advancing beyond low wage jobs. Tracking this rate can suggest actions we can take to increase community involvement.


How are we doing in Hall County?

• In 2008-09 75.0% of Hall County School System students graduated high school on time compared to 73.3% of students in Gainesville City Schools.
• The number of students graduating from high school on time varies greatly by race/ethnicity.  Hispanic/Latino and black students lag behind white students.
• Georgia ranks in the bottom 10 in the nation for high school dropouts and Hall County ranks in the bottom half in Georgia (105 out of 159 counties in 2008-09).
• The Georgia and local system's on-time high school graduation rate has improved since 2002 but still over 20% of students in Georgia do not graduate on time.
• A higher percentage of Gainesville City and Hall County high school graduates qualify for the HOPE Scholarship than the state average.  In 2008-09, 44.4% of Gainesville High School graduates qualified, and 45.4% of Hall County high School graduates qualified for the HOPE Scholarship, while 38.5% of Georgia's graduates qualified.
  

What does research tell us we can do to improve this indicator?

• Create safe school climates that are orderly and non-threatening

• Increase parent involvement and  family engagement in the school to improve their children's success

• Provide alternative schooling that pays special attention to the student's individual social needs and academic requirements for a high school diploma

• Monitor and track student progress

• Locate and offer opportunities to students to be engaged in meaningful service to their schools and communities

• Increase use of Graduation Coaches in all Middle and High Schools