Georgia Students Record Another All-Time-High Graduation Rate

Georgia’s high-school seniors recorded another historic graduation rate in 2023. The four-year graduation rate rose to 84.4% — up from 84.1% in 2022, and an all-time high since the state began using the adjusted cohort calculation first required to be calculated in 2011 by federal law.

A total of 107 Georgia school districts recorded graduation rates at or above 90%, and 43 districts recorded rates at or above 95%. Georgia’s statewide graduation rate has increased by 14.7 percentage points since 2012.

“I’m incredibly proud of Georgia’s high-school seniors – and the teachers, leaders, and families who have supported them to produce these results,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “It’s important to remember that the positive news we’ve received lately – from this historic-high graduation rate to Georgia students beating the national average on the SAT – is more than just numbers. Every data point represents an actual student and new opportunities that have opened up for their future. I’m confident we’ll continue to see positive results as we invest in academic recovery and building a student-centered educational system.”

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 graduating class

Adjusted Cohort Rate 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 2023

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% ​​

​​​​​​​​4-Year Cohort Graduation Rate State District School by Subgroups_10.10.23 ga doe