News

Early College, WHHS praised for graduation rates

By Bill Moss, Published: October 6, 2015

Henderson County Early College High School and West Henderson High School were among 61 North Carolina schools recognized for their exceptionally high 2014-15 graduation rates during a special ceremony in Durham.

The Henderson County school system was also recognized for having the highest graduation rate (90.5 percent) among medium-sized districts — those with 1,000-1,999 seniors.

The Graduation Achievement Awards Recognition & Luncheon, hosted by the State Board of Education and the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, recognized Early College High as one of 53 schools in North Carolina with a four-year cohort graduation rate of 100 percent in 2014-15.

That’s compared to only eight high schools in the “100% Graduation Club” in 2008, said state schools superintendent June Atkinson.

West Henderson High – with a rate of 99.2 percent – was recognized for having the second highest graduation rate in schools having 200-299 students in its cohort size. A four-year cohort graduation rate measures the number of graduates who started together as freshmen and completed high school in four years. Atkinson said North Carolina’s graduation rate has jumped 17.3 percent since 2005-06.

“Almost 90,000 more students have graduated in North Carolina high schools … in the past nine years,” Atkinson said.

Henderson County schools Superintendent David Jones attributed the high graduation rates at Early College High, West Henderson High and throughout Henderson County Public Schools to the diligent work of school staff.

“We’ve just got to give a lot of congrats to our teachers, administrators, guidance counselors, who are checking up, finding out where those kids are (academically)” and helping them reach their academic potential, he said.