Graduation Rates Reach All-Time High in Greenville County Schools

Graduation Rates Soar in Greenville County Schools!

If you’ve been hearing the buzz around town lately, it’s all about the fantastic news coming out of Greenville. The local schools are celebrating some impressive achievements that truly deserve a round of applause. Thanks to the tireless efforts of students, families, and staff, graduation rates in Greenville County Schools (GCS) have soared to new heights.

Record-Setting Graduation Rates

Tim Waller from GCS recently announced in a news release that the district’s high school graduation rate has reached a remarkable 88.7%. This is not just a small bump; it’s the highest rate in the school district’s history and a full 3.6 percentage points higher than the previous year! What an exciting milestone for the students and the community!

But wait, there’s more! An impressive 88.1% of this year’s graduation cohort also met the College and Career Readiness markers, marking a jump of 6.4% from last year. It’s exciting to see so many students not only earning their diplomas but also preparing themselves for the next chapters of their lives, whether that’s heading to college or diving straight into a career.

School Report Card Rankings

On top of this stellar graduation rate, the South Carolina Department of Education just released its annual report card rankings, and GCS holds its head high! Almost 90% of the schools in the district scored Excellent, Good, or Average, with 31.4% achieving the highest designation of Excellent. That’s a significant achievement that speaks volumes about the hard work being put in at these schools!

In comparison to schools across the state, GCS scored 18.4% higher overall. Here’s a quick peek at how GCS stacks up in the rankings:

• Excellent: 27 Schools
• Good: 28 Schools
• Average: 21 Schools
• Below Average: 8 Schools
• Unsatisfactory: 2 Schools

Impressive numbers, right? To put it in perspective, the graduation rates from the past few years have steadily climbed for GCS:

• 2021: 84.1
• 2022: 84.8
• 2023: 86.1
• 2024: 88.7

In contrast, the state of South Carolina shows a modest increase over the same period:

• 2021: 83.3
• 2022: 83.8
• 2023: 83.8
• 2024: 85.4

A Focus on Real-World Readiness

GCS Superintendent Dr. Burke Royster shared thoughts on these significant achievements: “The increase in our graduation rate and the growth in college- and career-readiness demonstrate that GCS continues to set a high standard for achievement.” He emphasizes that this success reflects the combined effort of students, families, staff, and the unwavering support of the GCS Board of Trustees.

Royster highlighted the success of the Graduation Plus initiative, a program dedicated to ensuring students not only graduate but also earn college credits and industry certifications. This, he believes, prepares students for real-world success, giving them a solid foundation to build their futures.

How Do Local Schools Measure Up?

So, how did our local high schools perform? Here’s a quick look:

• Woodmont HS: 95.5
• Riverside HS: 95.3
• Mauldin HS: 94.7
• Hillcrest HS: 92.8
• Eastside HS: 90.5
• J.L. Mann HS: 89.8
• Greenville HS: 87.9

Clearly, the passion and dedication to education in Greenville are paying off. Students and educators alike have every reason to be proud of these numbers as they represent hard work, perseverance, and a commitment to growth!

Here’s to more success in the years to come in our beloved Greenville County Schools!