MOULTRIE — Colquitt County High School’s seniors recorded another historic graduation rate in 2023. The four-year graduation rate rose to 88.49% — an all-time high since the state began using the adjusted cohort calculation now required by federal law, up from 87.1% in 2022.

Since 2018, the four-year graduation rate has risen by 3.54% for all CCHS students, the school district said in a press release Wednesday. Likewise, the five-year graduation rate increased from 83% in 2018 to 90.27% in 2023.

The Georgia Department of Education also monitors the graduation rates of different subgroups of students within a school. Colquitt County has significantly sustained gains in all subgroups when comparing 2018 and 2023 graduation rates, the school district said. The graduation rate of Students With Disabilities rose 15.01% since 2018. The English Language Learner subgroup has increased the percentage of students graduating by 14.36% in the last five years. Similarly, the graduation rates of Black, Hispanic, and White students have increased. Since 2018, the graduation rate of Black students rose 5.69%, Hispanic students rose 9.49%, and White students rose 9.85%.

“We are extremely proud of the work of our students, guidance staff, teachers, and parents as we continue to improve our graduation rate,” shared CCHS Principal Daniel Chappuis. “We will continue to focus our efforts on ensuring that not only do all of our students graduate and receive a high school diploma, but they plan to be enrolled, enlisted, or employed when they leave CCHS.”

Recent efforts to ensure students are enrolled in college, enlisted in the military, or employed in a job upon graduation include a joint program with the Moultrie Chamber of Commerce and Moultrie-Colquitt County Development Authority called Project Purpose and a partnership with the Georgia College Advising Corps for an additional college advisor at the high school.

How Georgia calculates its graduation rate

Georgia calculates a four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate as required by federal law. This rate is:

• The number of students who graduate in four years with a regular high school diploma, divided by

• The number of students who form the adjusted cohort for the graduating class.

From the beginning of ninth grade, students who are entering that grade form a cohort that is subsequently adjusted by adding any students who transfer into the cohort during the next three years and subtracting any students who transfer out.