Aiken County’s students are graduating on-time at an all-time, unprecedented percentage rate of 88.6%, according to report card data released by the State Department of Education today. Aiken’s percentage of students successfully completing their high school coursework and earning a diploma tops the state average, 82.6%, and continues our school system’s upward trend in this area.
“Aiken County’s focus on positive individual student outcomes is evident,” Superintendent Dr. Sean Alford commented of the impressive report.
Just three years ago, 80% of high school students earned their diploma in four years. Since then, the District Four-Year Cohort Graduation Rate has steadily climbed, with 82.7% graduating on time in 2014 and 85.2% in 2015.
“This year’s increase, 3.4 points over last year, is especially impressive,” Dr. Tim Yarborough, Executive Director of High Schools explained. “We’re tracking, supporting and accounting for the individual success of each and every student in a more comprehensive way than ever before.”
Also of note, 100% of seniors completed college applications and more than 75% are enrolled in a two- or four- year college or technical college pursuing an associate’s degree, certificate, or diploma.
The school district implemented our One Child – One Chance initiative in the fall of 2015 to enhance our commitment to student success. The initiative removes traditional barriers so that all graduates leave high school with a diploma and a solid connection to high-quality post-secondary employment and educational opportunities.
“Ensuring all students earn a diploma is not the end-goal,” the District’s Coordinator for Counseling, Career Services and High Schools Gina Bassford, commented of the program. “We’ve partnered with our local 2 and 4-year institutions of higher learning and the business community to help ensure positive transitions for all students.”
Support with college applications and Instant Decision Days, in which Aiken County students receive an immediate college acceptance decision, coupled with college tours, college counselor visits to Aiken’s high schools, dual enrollment and increased access to advanced-level coursework for college credit, have enabled more students to realize their college potential.
Also among the numerous data points reported on the state report card is Aiken County’s percentage of students with disabilities, 12.5%. The percentage of students participating in work-based experiences, 39.8%, is up from 6.5% the previous year, as is the percentage of students participating in dual enrollment, 22.7, an increase from 13.1 in 2014.
This year marks the first time for the new format for the state report card that aligns with federal reporting. For the complete details, visit the state department’s website at http://ed.sc.gov/data/report-cards/state-report-cards/2016/ and use the drop-down menu to select “Aiken.”
An improved graduation rate is the final goal that Superintendent Dr. Sean Alford set with board members last year to achieve as part of his formal review. The goal set incremental increases throughout a four-year period which would, if achieved, result in an 88.5% graduation rate by the year 2018.
“To share with board members tonight that we’ve surpassed our four-year graduation rate improvement goal three years early is extremely exciting for our school district,” Dr. Alford stated.
“Everyone is working extremely hard to move students forward,” he continued. “We’re all working hard together and it’s because of this collaborative effort that our students are achieving.”
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Link to District Press Release: PR 2016 grad rate