PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — A higher percentage of students are graduating than ever before in Palm Beach County School District.
"Graduation Day, when you see a kid who didn’t think they were going to graduate and they’re there in a cap and gown, it’s one of the most amazing parts of the job," said Megen Stair, a school counselor who was awarded Florida's School Counselor of the Year.
The district's graduation rate, excluding charter schools, rose from 90 percent in 2017 to 91.7 percent in 2018.
"Our goal is 100 and we’re well on that way," said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Donald Fennoy.
The district outperforms other large urban school districts in the state for the fifth year in a row.
"It’s a big task to really deal with every issue, but we’re trying. We’re chipping away at it, one kid at a time," Dr. Fennoy said.
For the third time, African American and Hispanic students in the District are improving their graduation rates from last year by 9.2 percent and 5.2 percent, respectively.
“Connect with their families, connect with them, make sure that they’re visible to everyone, and we’re putting in all the necessary mechanisms to give every child the opportunity to graduate from high school," Dr. Fennoy said.
Twenty high schools have a graduation rate above 90 percent.
Three schools have a 100 percent graduation rate: Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, Suncoast Community High School, and Village Academy on the Art & Sara Jo Kobacker Campus.
