The largest school district in Georgia has its largest number of graduates this year. Gwinnett County Public Schools had nearly 13,000 receive diplomas this month.

Graduation ceremonies for 22 of the district’s 23 diploma-granting high schools started with Phoenix High School on May 20 and wrap up on May 27 with Discovery High School.  Paul Duke STEM High School opened this year, but has no senior class. The Class of 2020 will be the first graduates for this new theme school.

Here are a few facts about the graduates:

82% are headed to universities, colleges, and post-secondary schools

84.5% will attend school in Georgia

43 will matriculate at an Ivy League school

1,300-plus will attend one of the top 50 schools in the country or one of the top 25 public colleges or universities in the U.S. (based on U.S. News & World Report ranking).

$203.7 million in academic, athletic and military scholarships

18% of college-bound graduates were offered at least one scholarship.

$104.3 million in academic achievement scholarships

9 Posse scholars

2 Horatio Alger scholars

1 KPMG Future Leader scholarship

17 QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship

recipients

4 Gates Scholars.

$91 million in athletic scholarships.

21 young leaders received more than $8.3 million in scholarships from the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marines

471 will serve their country through military service after graduation

1,200 students will enter the workforce after high school, many armed with credentials and certificates earned through career and technical education programs

500-plus plan to take “gap year” travel to mission work.

3,592 Honor Graduates

7,036 took Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses

1,619 seniors— an increase of nearly 400 students over last year — got a head start on college through the state’s dual-enrollment program, earning both high school and college credit.

Information: gwinnett.k12.ga.us

About the Author

Keep Reading

Michelle Roache, pictured with her two youngest children, 3-year-old Elijah and 4-year-old Gianna, recently graduated from Clayton State University. She received a child care scholarship through Quality Care for Children and the federal Child Care Access Means Parents in School grant, which made it possible for her to finish her degree. Now the grant is on the chopping block. (Courtesy of Michelle Roache)

Credit: Photo courtesy Michelle Roache

Featured

Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat speaks during a press interview at the district attorney’s office in Atlanta on Friday, July 12, 2024. Public safety officials presented findings from a report on repeat offenders. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com