It continues to have one of the lowest dropout rates.
Frederick, Md (KM) Graduation rates in Frederick County Public Schools continue to top the state’s rate, and its dropout rate remains in the single digits. .
Graduation rates for the 2022-2023 school year were released on Tuesday, and Frederick County Public Schools says these statistics show the graduation rate for local schools for 2023 remains “steady and strong” at 93..1 percent with nearly 3200 high school diplomas awarded last year FCPS officials say this is seven percent higher than the state rate, and first among school systems with 30,000 or more students.
The state’s rate is 86.3 percent in 2022-2023, which is a drop from 86.8 percent the prior year.
MSDE officials say students in the 2023 cohort entered the ninth grade during the 2019-2020 school year, and a critical part of their education experience was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, when schools were closed for a period of time to avoid the spread of the virus. Those students got their educations through virtual learning in the spring of 2020. They returned to class in the fall following fall.
Frederick County Public Schools says high school graduations increased by 13 percent in 2023 for students experiencing housing and food insecurity. Those students who received free and reduced price meals saw their graduation rates jump by eight percent. There was also a three percent rise in graduation rates in 2023 for Hispanic and Latino students,
FCPS says the graduation rate for Black/African-American students and students of two or more races stood at 93 percent Officials say that mirrors the graduation rate for all students, and indicates the elimination of the achievement gap for this particular group of students in this category. .
The School System says the four-year dropout rate for the class of 2023 declined by one-half percent to 3.3 percent.
Cohort graduation and dropout rates follow a set group of students from freshman year through their senior year.
“This progress isn’t possible without the support of every FCPS employee and our community,:” says Dr. Cheryl Dyson, Superintendent of Frederick County Public Schools, in a statement.. “Thai support gives students opportunities to graduate and excel in their future endeavors.”
FCPS says its goal is make sure all students are college and career ready before graduation.
By Kevin McManus