NEWS RELEASE: Polk School District is proud to announce our 2024 graduation rate has exceeded the state average, marking another significant achievement in the district's commitment to student success. Polk School District’s 2024 graduation rate is 90.9%, surpassing the 2024 Georgia state average of 84.3%. This data was released today by the Georgia Department of Education.
Both of our high schools finished 2024 with impressive individual graduation rates. Cedartown High School (CHS) boasted a rate of 91.8%, while Rockmart High School (RHS) achieved a strong 89.6%. These figures reflect the hard work of students, the dedication of teachers and staff, and the support of our families and the Polk County community.
Superintendent Dr. Katie Thomas commended the collective effort: "We are thrilled to see our students succeed at such a high level. Exceeding the state average is a testament to our ongoing focus on academic excellence and student support." Polk School District will continue to strive for even higher rates of graduation in the coming years by building on these successes and addressing any barriers to student achievement.
Georgia’s four-year graduation rate rose to 85.4% -- up from 84.4% in 2023, and an all-time high since the state began using the adjusted cohort calculation first required in 2011 by federal law.
A total of 115 Georgia school districts recorded graduation rates at or above 90%, and 44 districts recorded rates at or above 95%. Georgia’s statewide graduation rate has increased by 18 percentage points since 2011.
“I offer my congratulations to Georgia’s class of 2024 on this historic achievement,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “These students faced great challenges throughout their school careers – they were in middle school when the pandemic hit in 2020. We have worked to provide the resources and supports needed to ensure they could still succeed and thrive, and we continue to see results showing that the efforts of Georgia’s educators, families, and all those who have taken the time to invest in students are paying off.”
Efforts to support continued gains in graduation rate
The Georgia Department of Education – in partnership with local districts and schools, and other education partners – has worked to put supports in place to keep students engaged in their education and ensure they graduate on time. These initiatives include the continued expansion of Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education programs which allow students to prepare directly for careers after high school; the GaTutor program which provides free tutoring support from certified Georgia teachers, and robust efforts to locate and support students who have disengaged from school.
Georgia’s class of 2024 has shown several indicators of success in addition to their historic-high graduation rate, including beating the national average on the SAT and showing strong improvement on the Georgia Milestones assessments.
How Georgia calculates its graduation rate
Georgia calculates a four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate as required by federal law. This rate is:
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 graduation class.
Adjusted Cohort Definition: From the beginning of ninth grade, students who are entering that grade 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.
Georgia Graduation Rates – 2011 to 2024
2024 – 85.4%
2023 – 84.4%
2022 – 84.1%
2021 – 83.7%
2020 – 83.8%
2019 – 82.0%
2018 – 81.6%
2017 – 80.6%
2016 – 79.4%
2015 – 79.0%
2014 – 72.6%
2013 – 71.8%
2012 – 69.7%
2011 – 67.4%