MCPS Graduation Rate Among Top Six in the Nation, Education Week Study Finds

80 out of 100 Seniors Graduate in MCPS with Regular Diploma

A new study published by Education Week on June 12 finds that the graduation rate in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) ranks among the top six in the nation.

The MCPS graduation rate of 80.3 percent surpasses the national average of 69.9 percent and the Maryland average of 74.7 percent, according to the study of 2003–2004 graduation rates.

“I am pleased that again this year MCPS has among the best graduation rates in the nation,” said Dr. Jerry D. Weast, superintendent of schools. “We will only be satisfied, however, when the gap in high school completion by race and ethnicity is closed.”

Five school systems had higher graduation rates than MCPS— Fairfax County, VA (80.4 percent), Baltimore County (81.1 percent), Jefferson County, CO (81.5 percent), Cypress-Fairbanks, TX (86.9 percent), and Jordan, UT (88.5 percent).

MCPS requires students to obtain 22 credits to receive a high school diploma, one credit more than the state requirement of 21 credits. The difference is that MCPS requires four math credits while the state only requires three credits.

The report highlights that there continues to be a significant disparity in graduation rates across racial and ethnic groups nationwide. Approximately half of American Indian and African American students in the nation graduate, compared with more than three-quarters of non-Hispanic whites and Asians. In addition, females earn diplomas at a higher rate than males.

The Education Week study was conducted by the Editorial Projects in Education Research Center. It analyzed graduation data for all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as the nation’s 50 largest school districts. More information is available at the links below.