Submitted by the governor's office
ATLANTA - Governor Sonny Perdue spoke to the National Dropout Prevention Conference today and announced the state’s graduation coaches helped decrease the number of dropouts in Georgia high schools by at least 2,200 students for the second year in a row. In the 2007-2008 school year, 2,241 fewer students dropped out than in 2006-2007, a 10.6 percent decrease. The number of dropouts in the 06-07 school year was 2,272 lower than the year before, a decrease of 9.7 percent. In total, the number of dropouts in 07-08 was 4,513 students fewer than in 05-06, a decrease of 19.3 percent in just the first two years of graduation coaches serving in Georgia’s high schools.
“Our Graduation Coaches are doing outstanding work serving at-risk students, developing individual graduation plans and following through to encourage potential dropouts to stay in school,” said Governor Perdue. “Seeing more students graduate and fewer drop out strengthens Georgia’s ability to provide an educated workforce and compete in the global markets.”
Georgia saw this dramatic decrease in the numbers of dropouts despite continuing increases in attendance figures -- an increase of 18,000 new students added to the state high schools last two years.
Georgia’s high school graduation rate of 75.4 percent has steadily risen twelve points from 63.3 percent in the 2002-2003 school year when Governor Perdue first took office.
Last year, Georgia’s graduation coaches worked with 33,834 students with poor attendance and 14,082 students who were not on track to graduate. In total, they intervened on behalf of at-risk students 282,400 times. Over 78 percent of seniors who were identified as at-risk and served by coaches graduated from high school last year.
“Reducing Georgia's dropout rate and increasing the graduation rate is our top priority and it’s clear we are making great progress,” State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox said. “This has happened thanks to the hard work of our graduation coaches, counselors, teachers, students and parents. There is work left to be done, but I know with this type of collaboration we will get the job done.”
There are currently 398 coaches working in Georgia high schools. Governor Perdue first funded high school graduation coaches in the FY07 budget. Based on the success of the High School Graduation Coach program, Governor Perdue extended the program to Middle Schools across the state at the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year. There are currently 242 graduation coaches working in middle schools
Under Governor Perdue’s vision, the graduation coach’s primary responsibility is to identify and work with at-risk students and help them get back on the graduation track before they drop out. The coach also identifies, recruits and engages concerned organizations and agencies to serve in a variety of support roles in their respective communities.
The graduation rate for the past six school years are as follows: 02/03, 63.3 percent; 03/04, 65.4 percent; 04/05, 69.4 percent; 05/06, 70.8 percent; 06/07, 72.3 percent; and 07/08, 75.4 percent.
Dropout statistics for the past six school years are as follows: 02/03, 24,810 students; 03/04, 23,683 students; 04/05, 24,280 students; 05/06, 23,372 students; 06/07, 21,100 students; and 07/08, 18,859 students.
Education
Governor says substantial decrease in number of high school dropouts
Graduation rate has increased by 12 points since 2002
- Education
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Northwest students place high, take tech to next level
Several Northwest Whitfield High School students placed high in the Sequoyah Regional Georgia Educational Technology Fair. Pictured from left are Josh Rountree, Audrey Edds, Bryan Cooper and Eli McMahon.
Several Northwest Whitfield High School students placed high in the Sequoyah Regional Georgia Educational Technology Fair.
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Dalton student on GPS May Court
Christian Bryant of Dalton has been elected to the May Court at Girls Preparatory School and will serve as crown bearer to the May Queen during the May Day festivities in April.
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Northwest Whitfield High School Sweetheart Court
Northwest Whitfield High School's Tip Off Club hosted the 2012 Sweetheart Dance at the school recently.
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Art student’s work on exhibition
Gary Sanchez Soto will represent Murray County High School in “An Artistic Discovery: The Congressional Art Competition” at the Derrell C. Roberts Library on the campus of Dalton State College.
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Professor to speak on the Oscars during 'Lunch & Learn' program
Jonathan Lampley, assistant professor of English at Dalton State, will present “The Oscars: Winners, Losers, and Weird Moments” in the College’s James E. Brown Center, room 105, on Feb. 15 from noon to 1 p.m.
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Local high schools recognized for AP classes, exams
State School Superintendent John Barge named several local high schools as Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Schools.
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The Perfect Polish
Cosmetology and Skills U.S.A. at North Murray High School recently sponsored a community service project in which Donna Blankenship’s students gave manicures to the residents of the Murray County Senior Center.
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MCHS accepts letterman's jacket
James “William” Butler’s family presented his letterman’s jacket to Murray County High School Principal Gina Linder during halftime of a varsity boys’ basketball game recently. The jacket, which has a “1962 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP” patch on it, will be displayed in the school’s trophy case. Presenting the jacket to Linder were Butler’s nieces, Chloe Brown and Ashley Strong; his wife, Patsy Butler; his daughter, Robin Baggett; and his grandchildren, Jaden and Janna Baggett.
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Mountain Creek Academy honors December teacher of the month
English teacher Jennifer Weninger (center) was selected by her peers as December’s Teacher of the Month at Mountain Creek Academy. Principal Paula Martin (right) and Curriculum Instructor Facilitator/Counselor Jennifer Lents presented her with the award.
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Mountain Creek Academy honors December staff of the month
Mountain Creek Academy Lisa Sanford, center, accepts a certificate from Principal Paula Martin and Counselor Jennifer Lents (left) as she is recognized with a December Staff of the Month award. Sanford has worked at Mountain Creek for 12 years.
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Med students visit Murray High
In December, students from Murray County High School and North Murray High School were invited to meet with fourth-year medical students Allen Ligon of Augusta and Heath Petty, an MCHS graduate.
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Gladden honors December student of the month
Joey Ecklebarger is the December 2011 Gladden Middle School Student of the Month. Joey is motivated and puts forth great effort in all classes. His behavior and attitude towards school, other students and teachers is also outstanding. Sean Hammond, Joey’s social studies teacher says of Joey, “He is great to have on our team.”
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Coker honors students for Week 14 good behavior
As part of Coker Elementary School’s PBIS or Positive Behavioral and Interventions Support system, students that follow the school expectations are recognized each week for their Great Behavior.
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Gladden students use Facebook in lessons
Gladden Middle School eighth-grader Shaley Stafford shows her Facebook page model on the book “Alice in Wonderland.” Eighth grade reading teacher Keith Rollins had his students choose a book from the library to do a book report on. However, this was not an ordinary book report. After the students read their book, they were to do their report by making a Facebook page about their book.
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Gladden assigns January Dreamcatcher award
Every month, one of the faculty members at Gladden Middle School is recognized for having the most clean and organized room. The award given is called the Dream Catcher Award. Seventh grade social studies teacher Jennifer Bennett was awarded the Dream Catcher Classroom of the Month for January and will hang the Dream Catcher model in her room until the next month.
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