Green Hope High was one of 17 NC high schools recognized by State Education Superintendent June Atkinson and the NC Department of Public Instruction for having the highest rates of graduation in North Carolina at a ceremony on Oct. 12 in Raleigh.
Green Hope High was recognized as one of the state’s top two schools by cohort rate that have 500 or more students graduating. The graduation rate for Green Hope was 94 percent.
The graduation rate for the Wake County Public School System was 78.4 percent. The school system awarded diplomas to 8,094 students in 21 ceremonies earlier this year.
The Board of Education goal is that by 2014, all students will graduate on-time prepared to compete globally.
North Carolina overall has a statewide graduation rate of 71.7 percent. This four-year cohort graduation rate refers to the percentage of students who graduate from high school in four years or less. The rates are for the students who were identified as being in the graduating class of 2009.
This is the second year that Superintendent Atkinson held the special recognition ceremony to highlight the importance of high school graduation and the graduation success stories in North Carolina.
“North Carolina must redouble its efforts to keep students in school and on track for high school graduation,” said Atkinson. “A high school diploma is a basic accomplishment for anyone entering the workforce and an essential stepping stone to a community college or university. The schools and districts we have honored today show us that public schools can have high graduation rates, and when they do, students are the winners.”
Atkinson said sending the message to students that education is a foundation for their future is only one part of the equation. Research shows that students benefit from smaller learning environments, opportunities to build relationships with their teachers, rigorous and focused academics and support to help them overcome setbacks.
At the NC Department of Public Instruction ceremony recognizing high schools for the state’s top graduation rates are Kevin Hill (Wake County Board of Education chair), Del Burns (Superintendent of Wake County Public School System), June Atkinson (NC Superintendent of Education), Kathy Chontos (WCPSS Western Area Superintendent), Jim Hedrick (Principal of Green Hope High) and Jim Hunt (former Governor of NC).