Memphis-Shelby County School leaders say graduation rates released by the state this week show district strategies designed to help high school students succeed are paying off.
For the second year in a row, the district increased its graduation rate from the previous year, going from 80.1 percent to 81.5 percent.
“We commend our educators, students, and families for their hard work and we are proud of the gains we continue to see in our graduation rates,” said Interim Superintendent Toni Williams. “We remain committed to equipping our scholars with the tools they need to ‘see the future’ and succeed.”
The district utilized multiple strategies to help high schoolers graduate on time including Project Graduation. The program allows students to earn elective credits or course recovery in the evening, outside of the traditional school day. The district also allocated funding to hire a graduation coach for every high school.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools wasn’t the only district celebrating increased graduation rates.
The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) announced that Tennessee’s 2022-23 graduation rate exceeded 90 percent for the first time in history, rising from just under 89 percent last year to 90.6 percent.
Out of the 94 school districts, 78 improved their rates from the previous year and nine of those districts improved by five percentage points or more. Alcoa City Schools, Clay County Schools, Fentress County Schools, Haywood County Schools, and South Carroll Special School District had 100 percent graduation rates and 61 districts graduated 95 percent or more on time.
Graduation rates for economically disadvantaged students and students with disabilities also increased by five percentage points.
“Tennessee’s continuous commitment to ensuring students are successful in graduating from high school on time is demonstrated in this year’s statewide graduation rate and is a direct result of the hard work of Tennessee directors of schools, administrators, and educators have done with our families and students,” said TDOE Commissioner of Education Lizzette Reynolds. “Earning a diploma and graduating high school is a milestone that unlocks so many opportunities for students as they begin their lives after K-12 education, and I am thrilled to see Tennessee’s graduation rate at a record high.”
