Today, the Georgia Department of Education released 2015 4-year cohort graduation rates - with the Clarke County School District's rate above 80%, an increase of more than 17%. The state's graduation rate is 78.8%. This 4-year cohort method is based on the number of students that graduate within four years, plus one summer.
 
The 4-year cohort data since its inception is below:

Clarke County School District
2011-66.1%
2012-70.1%
2013-69.5%
2014-63.2%
2015-80.3%

Cedar Shoals High School
2011-67.8%
2012-73.6%
2013-75.9%
2014-68.2%
2015-83.3%

Clarke Central High School
2011-70.8%
2012-76.7%
2013-76.3%
2014-71.3%
2015-84.2%

"The targeted work taking place in our schools has been tremendous, and I commend the teachers, administrators, students, parents and all support staff for helping push our graduation rate over 80%," said Superintendent Philip Lanoue. "We, as a district and community, have come together in our belief that all students can achieve, we plan to build on this watershed moment. We have created sustaining capacity in our system, and we are all working together to ensure that everything we do affects our students in a way that helps them achieve and reach their goals."
 
The school district will continue utilizing a number of targeted interventions. These included the use of data-driven instructional practices, individualized meetings with students to ensure they are on track to graduate, offering multiple opportunities for credit recovery and utilizing graduation coaches, social workers and counselors to assist parents in supporting their children.
 
Other initiatives include the Ninth Grade Academy at both high schools, which help ensure successful transitions to upper grades; a new partnership with Great Promise Partners to help connect at-risk students with jobs for pay and high school credit.