National Report: MCPS #1 in Graduation Rate for a Third Straight Year

June 7, 2011

Montgomery County Public Schools, for the third year in a row, has the highest graduation rate among the nation’s largest school districts, according to a national report released today (June 7).

The annual Diplomas Count report, published by Education Week, calculated MCPS’ graduation rate at 85.7 percent—a 2.6 percentage point increase over last year’s report—and significantly higher than the rate for the nation (71.7 percent) and the state of Maryland (76.8 percent).

“This year’s Diplomas Count report once again shows that Montgomery County Public Schools is leading the nation in graduation,” said Christopher S. Barclay, president of the Montgomery County Board of Education. “Our staff is committed, our students are focused and our community is dedicated to providing a world-class education to all Montgomery County children.”

Superintendent of Schools Jerry D. Weast said these results are even more significant because MCPS sets the bar higher for its graduates.

“We not only are graduating the greatest percentage of students, but we are making sure they are prepared for college and the work place when they cross the stage to get their diploma,” Dr. Weast said. “These results would not be possible without the outstanding effort put forward by the employees of MCPS, simply the best K-12 staff in the nation.”

Each year, Education Week uses the most recent Common Core of Data available from the National Center for Education Statistics to calculate graduation rates for the nation, each state and the nation’s 50 largest school districts. This year’s data is for the graduating class of 2008. The publication uses the Cumulative Promotion Index—or CPI—to calculate a graduation rate that is comparable from state to state and district to district. This calculation is significantly different than the Leaver Rate used by the state of Maryland. In 2008, the state-calculated graduation rate for MCPS was 89 percent. To learn more about the report and its calculations, visit the Diplomas Count website.

Dr. Weast will be a panelist in the Diplomas Count rollout event today at the PEW Charitable Trusts, 901 E Street, NW, 2^nd Floor. He will join other education leaders, researchers and analysts to discuss the report and meaningful educational and career opportunities for students after high school. The event runs from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dr. Weast is expected to speak about 1 p.m.

Graduation Rates for the Nation's 50 Largest Districts

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