Two High Schools Honored for Graduation Rates
October 15, 2010 - Two Wake County Public School System high schools were among 20 North Carolina high schools honored by State Superintendent June Atkinson for having the highest four-year cohort graduation rates in the state for the 2009-10 school year.
Green Hope High School and Panther Creek High School were congratulated by Atkinson as she highlighted the importance of high school graduation for all students in a ceremony Wednesday in the State Education Building in Raleigh.
Governor Beverly Perdue, Interim Wake Superintendent Donna Hargens and Wake County Board of Education Chair Ron Margiotta joined Superintendent Atkinson in congratulating Green Hope High Principal Jim Hedrick and Panther Creek High Principal Rodney Nelson.
"More than report card grades, state test scores, or SAT results, the graduation rate reflects our ability to keep students engaged in school and learning so that they will earn a high school diploma," said Atkinson. "While I commend the 30 districts and schools we celebrate today for reaching rates of nearly 85 percent or higher, we must do more to ensure every student makes it to graduation day with the skills needed for success in the future."
Green Hope was honored for NC high schools with 400 to 499 seniors. The four-year Green Hope High graduation rate is 92.6 percent and the five-year rate is 94.3 percent. The state began this recognition program in 2008. Green Hope has been recognized for its high graduation rates in each of the three years since the recognition program began.
The four-year Panther Creek High graduation rate is 92.8 percent while the five-year rate is 97.7 percent. Panther Creek High was honored for NC high schools with more than 500 seniors. Panther Creek received this honor in its first year of eligibility with the Class of 2010 becoming the first class of seniors to graduate from Panther Creek, one of Wake County's newest high schools.
Overall for WCPSS schools, the four-year graduation rate is 78.2 percent, and the five-year rate is 81.5 percent.
The four-year NC graduation rate is 74.2 percent, and the five-year rate is 74.7 percent. This rate has improved each year since 2006 when North Carolina reported its first measurement of a cohort graduation rate and is up from 2008-09 when it was 71.8 percent.
 Green Hope High Principal Jim Hedrick (right) congratulated by Dr. Hargens, Superintendent Atkinson and board chair Margiotta. |
 Panther Creek High Principal Rodney Nelson (right) congratulated by Dr. Hargens, Superintendent Atkinson and board chair Margiotta. |
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