The graduation rate for students in the McDuffie County School System continues to climb, reaching yet another all-time high. The rate for the Class of 2025 rose to 95.6%, as measured by the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI), an increase of 4.3% over the Class of 2024.
For the fifth consecutive year, the district has reached its highest graduation rate since the inception of the CCRPI accountability system in 2012. This also marks the eighth straight year that the McDuffie County graduation rate has increased over the previous year. The district’s rate is the highest in the CSRA RESA, the surrounding 11-county region of East-Central Georgia. It also outpaced the state rate of 87.2%, which was another all-time high.
“Our students and staff are so proud of the hard work that has gone into this tremendous increase,” said McDuffie County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mychele Rhodes. “But to us this isn’t simply an abstract number. This rate represents more of our community’s future leaders heading out into the world, ready to make a positive difference.”
The sustained growth in the district’s graduation rate is the direct result of numerous strategies implemented from kindergarten through twelfth grade that focus on student achievement. Those initiatives include elementary-level small group reading and math instruction; offering high school courses in academics, health and physical education, fine arts, and Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) to eighth grade students; as well as providing schedule flexibility for dual enrollment and Advanced Placement courses. A continued focus on CTAE career pathway offerings and work-based learning opportunities has likewise paid dividends.
Students struggling to meet course requirements are also offered a variety of support programs aimed at helping them succeed. Programs at the McDuffie Achievement Center and Thomson High School are available for those unable to complete credits in a traditional manner and find themselves in need of credit recovery options. Individual graduation plans are monitored by the graduation coach, school counselors, and system and school administrators. The district also offers extended learning periods, advanced content, specialized instructional classes, and tutoring.
“The district’s vision statement says our aim is for graduates to succeed in college, careers, and life,” Dr. Rhodes said. “Our board and our staff have displayed a level of innovation and resourcefulness that is making the vision statement a reality for more and more students each year, and that is truly inspiring.”
All subgroups exceeded state targets and demonstrated increases over their 2024 rates, with the largest gains among black/African-American pupils (6.33%) and students with disabilities (3.89%). Every subgroup achieved a rate greater than 90% for the first time in system history.