Buford High School graduation rate well above Gwinnett County average

Buford High School, the high school for the Buford City School District, had overall achievement better than 99 percent of state schools and student academic growth better than 99 percent, the Governor's Office of Student Achievement reported.

Buford High School, the high school for the Buford City School District, had overall achievement better than 99 percent of state schools and student academic growth better than 99 percent, the Governor's Office of Student Achievement reported.

Nearly every student who started at Buford High School in 2012 graduated four years later, according to state statistics released Tuesday.

The 2015-16 graduation rate at the sole high school of Buford City Schools was 91.4 percent, slightly down from 92 percent for the 2014-15 school year.

That's compared to Gwinnett County's rate of 79.6 percent and the state average of 79.2 percent.

The data from the state showed the graduation rate for Buford High's black students was 90.6 percent, 86.1 percent for Hispanic students and 94.9 for white students.

As for students with disabilities, that number is 56 percent.

There were too few students who identify as multi-racial along with Asian or Pacific Islander to record data.

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 identifying them as dropouts which would bring down graduation rates.

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.

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