Pike beats state in grad rate

The Pike County school system’s graduation rate continues to be well above the state average of 71.5% as local high school seniors graduate at a rate of 87.7% based on the four-year measurement.While the state’s overall rate has risen over the past three years, so has Pike’s graduation rate. ’The system has recognized a 25 percentile increase in graduation rate since 2004, in spite of a poverty rate which has increased by 27%. The recipe for this success is simple: A laser-like focus on classroom instruction and student expectations,’ said superintendent Dr. Michael Duncan. ‘The importance of a high school degree cannot be understated; it’s the difference between a life of poverty and prosperity.’Â Every school system is required to report graduation rates. ’The high school degree is the gateway to social mobility. For the citizens at large, the graduation rate measures the success of their investment in the education system,’ said Dr. Duncan. ‘I’d be remiss I didn’t reiterate that Pike has one of the highest graduation rate and one of the state’s lowest per pupil expenditure. We’re simply the best educational value in Georgia.’The four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate defines the cohort based on when a student first becomes a freshman. The rate is calculated using the number of students who graduate within four years and includes adjustments for student transfers. ’Despite the economic challenges our districts are facing, we have more high school students graduating today than we ever have before, which is a testament to the hard work of our students and teachers,’ said state school superintendent Dr. John Barge. ‘We must continue our progress to ensure all students cross the finish line, because without a high school diploma, their options are very limited.’