DCSD graduation rate shows increase since 2016
The DeKalb County School District’s (DCSD) four-year graduation rate for the Class of 2019 is 73.4, based on data from the Georgia Department of Education released today. While the District graduation rate showed a decrease of 1.5 percentage points from the Class of 2018 graduation rate of 74.9, DCSD has seen notable improvement in 89 percent of student subgroups and 70 percent of high schools since 2016.
“The latest graduation rates are a bittersweet reminder that DeKalb County School District has made great strides in the past four years, but still has plenty of work to do to ensure all students succeed in college, a career, or the military,” said Superintendent/CEO Dr. R. Stephen Green. “We are proud that certain student populations have improved. We are ecstatic that certain high schools have shown significant growth – with some increasing their graduation rates by double digits. But this is also evidence that we must double our efforts to maintain an upward trajectory. I challenge all students, teachers and staff to use this data as a benchmark and launching point. Let’s harness the power within, and continue to soar to new heights!”
The district improved the 2019 four-year graduation rate for five student subgroups:
- English Learners increased from 50.7 to 51.6, a gain of 0.9 percentage points
- Students with Disabilities increased from 44.2 to 46.4, a gain of 2.2 percentage points
- Asian/Pacific Islander students increased from 68.7 to 70.6, a gain of 1.9 percentage points
- White students increased from 88.4 to 90.7, a gain of 2.3 percentage points
- American Indian/Alaskan students increased from 66.6 to 75.0, a gain of 8.4 percentage points
Since 2016, eight out of nine student subgroups have demonstrated gains; American Indian/Alaskan (+11.4), Asian/Pacific Islander (+5.8), Black (+4.4), Multi-Racial (+0.54), White (+3.94), Economically Disadvantaged (+1.5), English Learners (+3.5), and Students with Disability (+5.3). Furthermore, 16 high schools have seen noteworthy improvement. Schools with five percent growth include McNair High (+12.7), DeKalb Alternative (+9.8), Dunwoody (+9.2), Miller Grove (+9.0), Lakeside (+6.7), and Martin Luther King, Jr. (+5.7).
Six high schools demonstrated more than a two percent gain in their 2019 four-year graduation rates.
- DeKalb Alternative School – from 12.5 in 2018 to 24.5 in 2019, a 12 percentage point increase
- Druid Hills High School – from 77.3 in 2018 to 83.2 in 2019, a 5.9 percentage point increase
- Lakeside High School – from 81.5 in 2018 to 84.5 in 2019, a 3.0 percentage point increase
- DeKalb School of the Arts – from 95.9 in 2018 to 98.7 in 2019, a 2.8 percentage point increase
- Dunwoody High School – from 86.3 to 88.9, a 2.6 percentage point increase
- McNair High School – from 68.6 in 2018 to 70.8 in 2019, a 2.2 percentage point increase
In addition, three DCSD high schools continue to have graduation rates above 95 percent.
- Arabia Mountain High School – 100 percent (Title I School)
- DeKalb School of the Arts – 98.7 percent
- DeKalb Early College Academy – 98.6 percent (Title I School)
Five additional high schools have graduation rates above 80 percent.
- Dunwoody High School – 88.9 percent
- Tapestry Public Charter School – 86.6 percent
- Lakeside High School – 84.5 percent (Title I School)
- Southwest DeKalb High School – 84.2 percent (Title I School)
- Druid Hills High School – 83.2 percent (Title 1 School)