Latest Stats Show Big Jump In High School Graduation Rate

Latest Stats Show Big Jump In High School Graduation Rate

By David Howell

Editor

WATER VALLEY – The 2015 graduation rate for Water Valley High School has increased to 84.7 percent, a huge jump from 59 percent in 2014.  The statistics were released by the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) last month and were shared with the Water Valley school board during Monday night’s meeting.

The percentage ranks the school 36th of 162 schools statewide and is calculated by tracking the number of freshman class entering the Water Valley High School during the 2010/2011 school year and continuing through graduation last May. 

“You are dealing with a class that started four years ago,” Superintendent Dr. Michael. McInnis explained. “It is a four-year cohort.” McInnis credited former superintendent Kim Chrestman, administrators and teachers and the school board’s five-year plan to address the school’s low graduation rate.

“This is more evidence that shows we are moving in the right direction,” McInnis added. 

Water Valley High School Principal Drew Pitcock compared the rates to neighboring schools, including : Oxford High School – 87 percent, Lafayette High School – 86.2, Grenada – 76.9 percent and Coffeeville – 70.7 percent.

“We are already close to Lafayette and Oxford and we are going to keep chasing them,” Pitcock said.

Pitcock also noted the latest statistics from MDE include the schools’ dropout rate and Water Valley recorded a 7.2 percent rate, also ranking the school 36th in the state. Dropout rates from surrounding schools cited by Pitcock include Lafayette – 6.8 percent, Oxford – 7.8 percent, Grenada – 8.5 percent and Coffeeville – 16.3 percent.