MCPS Graduation Rate Up, Higher Than Maryland Average

The graduation rate for Montgomery County public school students rose nearly one percentage point between 2012 and 2013, to 88.3 percent, according to data released by the Maryland State Department of Education on Tuesday. 

That's 3.3 percentage points higher than the average graduation rate for the state of Maryland in 2013, Montgomery County Public Schools reported in a news release on Tuesday.

"The steady increase in our graduation rate is a testament to the hard work of our students and staff, and the support of our parents and community members," MCPS Superintendent Joshua P. Starr said.

"We are committed to ensuring that all students graduate with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in their future," he added.

Dropout rates also were announced by the state education department on Tuesday. For MCPS, the dropout rate fell to 6.3 percent—a one-year decrease of a half a percentage point and a two-year decrease of 1.1 percentage points. The MCPS dropout rate is 3.1 percentage points lower than that of the state, which is 9.4 percent, MCPS and the state education department reported.

The MCPS graduation rate for African-American students rose to 83.9 percent, a one-year increase of 1.6 percentage points and a two-year increase of 2.6 points. The graduation rate for MCPS Hispanic students rose to 77.5 percent, a one-year increase of 0.8 percentage points and a two-year increase of 2.1 points. 

For special education students, the graduation rate is 67.5 percent, up 4.7 points from 2012. For students receiving free and reduced-price meals, the graduation rate is 78.1 percent, up 1.5 points compared with 2012.

"We are making steady progress in our efforts to narrow performance gaps. ... But we know that there is still much work to be done to ensure that every student graduates on time and is ready for college and the work place," Starr said.

Additional MCPS highlights in the graduation rate report:

• The MCPS high schools with the biggest one-year gain in graduation rate are Rockville (up 4.8 percentage points), Springbrook (4 points), Clarksburg (3.7 points), Northwest (3.7 points) and Northwood (3.6 points).
• The MCPS high schools with the biggest two-year gain in graduation rates are Rockville (up 7.4 percentage points), Northwood (3.5 points), Clarksburg (3.3 points), Quince Orchard (3.2 points) and Bethesda-Chevy Chase (2.9 points).
• The MCPS high schools with the highest graduation rates are Thomas S. Wootton (98.3 percent), Winston Churchill (97.4 percent), Poolesville (96.9 percent), Bethesda-Chevy Chase (96.7 percent) and Northwest (94.8 percent).
• Sixteen MCPS high schools saw a one-year increase in the graduation rate for African-American students, with the largest increases at Clarksburg (up 9.9 percentage points), Damascus (9.2 points), Quince Orchard, (6.8 points), Paint Branch (6.7 points) and Richard Montgomery (5.5 points).
• Twelve MCPS high schools saw a one-year increase in the graduation rate for Hispanic students, with the largest increases at Springbrook (up 10.3 percentage points), Bethesda Chevy-Chase (8.8 points), Northwood (8.6 points), Seneca Valley (8.6 points), and Damascus (7.6 points).
• Thirteen MCPS high schools saw a one-year increase in the graduation rate for students receiving FARMS, with the largest increases at Quince Orchard (up 9.6 percentage points), Clarksburg (8.6 points), Springbrook (7.3 points), Rockville (6.9 points) and Northwood (6.1 points). 
• Seventeen MCPS high schools saw a one-year increase in the graduation rate for students receiving special education services, with the largest increases at Paint Branch (up 21.8 percentage points), Quince Orchard (19.2 points), Northwood (12.4 points), Richard Montgomery (11.7 points) and Damascus (11.4 points).