Graduation Rate Climbs To 84 Percent
The graduation rate for Water Valley’s Class of 2017 was 84 percent as 80 seniors received their diplomas last May. The graduation rate tied the national rate and was one point higher than the state’s graduation rate.
The graduation rate increased from 80.4 percent for the 2015-16 school year and from 69.5 during the 2014-15 school year, a jump that Superintendent Dr. Michael McInnis reports comes from high expectations at the school district.
“It has taken some time, we didn’t expect results over night. We are slowly seeing the change in culture and that comes from increasing the rigor in the classroom and high expectations and this data reflects that,” McInnis told the Herald.
Water Valley High School Principal Drew Pitcock also attributed the improvement to academic rigor. He added that pushing achievement on the ACT test, which allows students who have deficiencies on state test but do well on the ACT to graduate. But, above all, Pitcock stressed that the success is the result of teachers who don’t give up on the kids.
MDE calculates the graduation rate by calculating the number of students who graduated from high school with a diploma during a four-year period beginning in the ninth grade. The graduation rates lag one year behind the school year, which means the rate for the 2016-17 will be reflected in the accountability ratings for the 2017-18 school year.
Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education, said school districts have implemented multiple ways for students to earn a diploma, and that parents, teachers and administrators should be proud of the class of 2017’s significant achievement.
“I congratulate our school districts for ensuring that students are completing high school successfully, so they can pursue their goals in college, postsecondary training, the military or workforce,” Wright said. “A diploma is key to success in life after high school.”
