Houston County School District’s Graduation Rate Increases to 89.5%

On October 6, the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) released the 2022 high school graduation rates from around the state. Houston County’s graduation rate is 89.5 percent, 5.4 percentage points higher than the state’s rate of 84.1 percent. The Houston County School District saw an increase from 2021 when the graduation rate was 88.8 percent.

“I am proud to see the graduation rate of our students continue to increase,” said Dr. Mark Scott, Superintendent of Schools. “Our teachers at all grade levels do a phenomenal job of providing rigorous learning opportunities that prepare our students for graduation.” 

Georgia calculates a four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate as required by federal law.  The calculation is based on the number of students who graduate within four years of high school and does not include students who take more than four years to graduate. The four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate is based on when a student first becomes a freshman, using the number of students who graduate within four years and adjusted for student transfers.

To read the complete release, click here.

Houston County SAT Scores Higher than State and National Averages

For the sixth consecutive year, Houston County School District’s SAT scores have outperformed the state and national averages. The College Board recently released SAT scores for the Class of 2022. Houston County School District students earned a mean total score of 1,068, which is 40 points higher than the national mean and 16 points above the state mean.

Houston County students outperformed their peers in public schools across the nation by 22 points in Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and by 18 points in Math. A total of 886 Houston County students in the Class of 2022 took the SAT, which was up from 645 in 2021.

“Houston County School District is well known for the exceptional academic performance of our students,” said Dr. Mark Scott, Superintendent of the Houston County School District. “I am proud of these students for their accomplishments, and I’m grateful for the teachers who prepared them for their next steps after graduation from high school.”

To read the complete release, click here.

Kings Chapel Elementary School Named National Blue Ribbon School

Kings Chapel Elementary School has been named a 2022 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. Miguel Cardona, the U.S. Secretary of Education, made the announcement on September 16 during his Road to Success Back to School bus tour. The U. S. Department of Education chose 297 schools for this national award. Located in Perry, Kings Chapel Elementary is one of six schools chosen in Georgia.  Mr. William Ray serves as principal.

Kings Chapel Elementary School was recognized as an Exemplary High Performing School. The Department recognizes all National Blue Ribbon Schools in one of two performance categories based on student scores and graduation rates. Exemplary High-Performing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. Exemplary Achievement Gap-Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students. 

“It’s a tremendous honor for Kings Chapel to be recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School,” said Mr. Ray. “This national award is a testament to the hard work of our staff and students, as well as the support we receive from our District and community.  I’m thrilled to share this great news with our students and parents. We are KCES!”  

To read the complete release, click here.

Houston County School District Named One of Top 15 Employers by Forbes

The Houston County School District has been named one of the Top 15 Employers in the state of Georgia for 2022 by Forbes. Ranked in 7th place among Georgia-based businesses and 14th overall, the Houston County School District is the highest-ranking educational organization in the state. Additionally, it is the top-ranked employer based in Middle Georgia.

“Our teachers, administrators and support staff are the driving force behind what makes our District successful,” shared Dr. Mark Scott, Superintendent of Schools for the Houston County School District. “Our Board of Education members are committed to ensuring that employees at all levels of our organization are provided a competitive salary and benefits package. Our employees are vital to our mission, and we are grateful for their dedication to our students, their families, and our community as a whole.”

To read the complete release, click here.