Cobb County Schools: Graduation rates rise

Cobb County public school students graduated from high school at higher rates than the state average, according to data released Tuesday.

The graduation rate in Cobb for the 2015-16 school year was 83.8 percent, up from 81.4 percent for the prior school year, state Education Department data showed. Preliminary statewide data showed the graduation rate went up from 78.8 percent to 79.2 percent.

In Marietta’s school system, the graduation rate was 75.1 percent, a slight increase from the 74.7 percent rate for the 2014-15 school year, the data showed.

The increases come as Georgia has changed graduation test requirements and as many schools have increased the use of online classes in which many students earn credit without mastering the material. Georgia eliminated its High School Graduation Test starting with the class of 2015. Now high school students must take state tests in certain subjects, but they don't have to pass the tests to graduate.

In recent years, many districts too have paid more attention to tracking down students who leave school before graduation in an effort to keep them in school—and avoid labeling them as dropouts which would bring down graduation rates.

Cobb County Schools: 2015 vs. 2016 Graduation Rates

Ga. Dept. of Education

Return to www.myajc.com for additional information.

You can find test scores, graduation rates and other critical information about your school at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's new Ultimate Atlanta School guide.