October 10, 2023: Graduation rates for the state of Georgia were released today, and Evans County Charter School System (ECCSS) is happy to announce that our district overall graduation rate, which includes Claxton High School (CHS) and The Academy, increased to 90.4%, .7 percentage points higher than last year. The overall district graduation rate is calculated using combined four-year and five-year cohort graduation data for CHS and The Academy.
Increasing the district's percentage of graduates to be equal to or exceeding the state graduation rate with 100% of graduates being prepared for college, career, and community is the focus of ECCSS’s strategic plan. CHS’s 2023 four-year cohort graduation rate (89.23%) has exceeded the state’s four-year cohort graduation rate (2023- 84.4%) for the last six years. Additionally, CHS’s four-year cohort graduation rate has increased by 14.54 percentage points since 2017, the first year of the district’s strategic plan.
Dr. Paul Mizell, Principal of CHS, stated, “We are very proud of our graduation rate at Claxton High School which reflects the hard work that our students, teachers, and families have contributed throughout their high school years. This also reflects our commitment as a school district and community to remove barriers and prepare our students to enter the workforce or postsecondary education.“
The 2023 four-year cohort graduation rate (85.71%) for The Academy has also exceeded the state four-year cohort graduation rate. Additionally, The Academy has increased its four-year cohort graduation by 68.71 percentage points since the first year of enrollment, the 2017-2018 school year.
Mr. Mark Stroud, Principal of The Academy, stated, “Improving graduation rates is a long-term effort that requires dedication, collaboration, and patience. By involving students, staff, and the community in a concerted effort, you can create a supportive environment that produces high school graduates who are well-prepared for college, careers, and active community participation. At The Academy, we are very proud of our graduates.”
Dr. Marty Waters, Superintendent of ECCSS, stated, “These results are a testament to the collaborative effort put forth by students, staff, families, Board of Education, community members, and workforce partners. We commend everyone involved for their dedication in achieving these results.”