Aiken County's graduation rate continued a three-year decline, dipping to 68.6 percent in 2008, according to final federal Adequate Yearly Progress data released Wednesday.
The graduation data was included in the larger collection of statistics and benchmarks released for federal adequate yearly progress scores. Graduation rates account for 30 percent of a high school's overall rating for No Child Left Behind standards.
The state graduation rate improved overall to 73.3, up from 70.9 in 2007. Edgefield County improved 8.2 percentage points, raising its 2008 rate to 76.9 percent, the highest in two years.
Graduation rates track the number of students who complete high school within four years of entering as a freshman and those who graduate in the summer after their senior year.
Until this year, the rates only included students who finished in exactly four years. Students graduating early aren't counted in the graduation rate.
While Aiken County administrators say they aren't pleased to see another drop, they don't think the rate fairly reflects the number of students completing high school in the county.
"These numbers aren't final and we can still appeal to the state," said Kevin O'Gorman, Aiken County associate superintendent for instruction. "If a child leaves a school and transfers to another district, it isn't always tracked properly."
Unless the new school requests transcripts, the student remains at the old school based on records, Dr. O'Gorman said.
The state Education Department took measures last year to implement a Student Unique Number System, or SUNS, to better track students, State Education Department spokesman Jim Foster said. So far no complaints have been filed by school districts, he said.
Although officials say keeping track of students with proper paperwork accounts for some of the graduation rate decrease, Ridge Spring-Monetta High Principal Bill Ward said being more attentive to students will go a long way in catching those who tend to fall through the cracks.
Aiken County schools adopted the High Schools That Work formula this year that encourages teachers and administrators to focus on individual student achievement.
"We always try to work to keep all the kids in, but things happen," Mr. Ward said. "This year we're trying to improve attendance and we're offering Saturday school and credit recovery."
With 70 to 80 students in an individual grade of classes at Ridge Spring-Monetta, Mr. Ward said even three students dropping out drastically affects his school's rate.
This year Ridge Spring-Monetta improved from a graduation rate of 66.1 percent in 2007 to 80.3 percent in 2008 -- the only Aiken County high school to show improvement and meet all AYP objectives.
Silver Bluff High School had the largest rate decrease, going from 76.3 percent in 2007 to 66.5 percent in 2008.
Reach Julia Sellers at (706) 823-3424 or julia.sellers@augustachronicle.com
GRADUATION RATES
Rates* expressed as a percentage:
| 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |
| State | 77.1 | 73.9 | 70.9 | 73.3 |
| Aiken County | 80.0 | 74.3 | 71.0 | 68.6 |
| Edgefield County | 71.4 | 77.8 | 68.7 | 76.9 |
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 3-year average | AYP Goals** | ||
| Aiken County Schools | ||||||
| Aiken High | 73 | 72.2 | 70.7 | 72 | Met | 16 out of 21 objectives |
| Midland Valley High | 60.2 | 65.5 | 61.5 | 62.4 | Met | 16 out of 19 objectives |
| North Augusta High | 80.8 | 79 | 74.5 | 78.1 | Met | 18 out of 19 objectives |
| Ridge Spring-Monetta High | 88.1 | 66.1 | 80.3 | 78.2 | Met | 7 out of 7 objectives |
| Silver Bluff High | 77.1 | 76.3 | 66.5 | 73.3 | Met | 16 out of 17 objectives |
| South Aiken High | 78.4 | 72.5 | 70.7 | 73.9 | Met | 14 out of 21 objectives |
| Wagener-Salley High | 75.9 | 54 | 53.6 | 61.2 | Met | 12 of 17 objectives |
| Edgefield County Schools | ||||||
| Fox Creek High | 80 | 53.6 | 62.7 | 65.4 | Met | 9 of 9 objectives |
| Strom Thurmond High | 77.6 | 72 | 81.3 | 77 | Met | 19 out of 21 objectives |
(Rates for 2005-07 do not include summer school graduates)
| Overall | AYP | rankings |
| State | Met | 27 of 37 goals |
| Edgefield County | Met | 19 of 25 objectives |
| Aiken County | Met | 26 of 33 objectives |
Visit http://ed.sc.gov/topics/assessment/scores/ayp/2008/default.cfm for complete AYP listings.
SOURCE: SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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