Schools

Montgomery Boasts Highest Graduation Rate Among Large Districts

With nearly 90 percent graduation rate, Montgomery County Public Schools has the highest graduation rate among large school districts for the fourth year in a row..

Montgomery County Public Schools graduates a higher percentage of high school students than any other large school district in the nation, according to data calculated by Education Week’s annual Diplomas Count report, school officials announced Thursday.

Using numbers from the class of 2009, MCPS’s graduation rate is 87.6 percent, which is 1.9 percent more than the previous year, according to a statement from the district. Maryland’s rate is 77.9 percent and the national graduation rate is 72.7.

Graduation rates for Gaithersburg-area high schools are:

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  • Gaithersburg High School: 89.2 percent (1.6 percent higher than MCPS average)
  • Quince Orchard High School: 88.8 percent (1.1 percent higher than MCPS average)
  • Watkins Mill High School: 82.9 percent (4.7 percent lower than MCPS average)

Fairfax County, VA, and Jefferson County, CO, were tied in second with 85.5 percent of students graduating, followed by Baltimore County and Broward County, FL.

“These results would not be possible without the hard work of our students, the dedication and outstanding performance of our employees and the continued support and investment of our community,” said Dr. Joshua P. Starr, superintendent of schools. “Together, we have made MCPS a national model of excellence.”  

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Diplomas Count ranks the nation’s 50 largest school districts using the most recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics. A statement from MCPS said that the index used to calculate Diploma Counts graduation rates is “significantly different” than the calculation used by the state of Maryland. In 2009, the state put MCPS’s graduation rate at 87 percent. 

This is the fourth year that MCPS has ranked number one on this list. 


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