Staff Report. October 18, 2011. BOONE -- The 2011-12 academic year is just weeks old, but accolades for area schools just keep coming.

The Watauga County Schools system has been recognized by the NC Department of Public Instruction for having achieved one of the 10 highest graduation rates among North Carolina school systems in 2010-11.  Thanks to a record-high 87.4% graduation rate at Watauga High School last year, the school system’s graduation rate was the seventh best among the 115 public school systems in North Carolina.

“This recognition is a great tribute to the work of the high school faculty, administrators, support staff, parents and our community partners,” said Superintendent Dr. Marty Hemric.  “Our students, faculty, and other stakeholders are creating a solid foundation for continued growth in student achievement at the high school.”

The graduation rate at Watauga High School has risen three years in a row and is up a total of nearly 20% during that time.

State Board of Education Chair Dr. Bill Harrison described the high achieving school systems and high schools recognized by the Department of Public Instruction as “lighthouses for other schools in North Carolina.” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. June Atkinson said she looked forward to the day when a large arena or a stadium would be required to host representatives of school systems and high schools with high graduation rates.

Graduation rates among the state’s top 10 school systems ranged from 86.1% in the Cherokee County Schools to a top rate of 91.7% in the Elkin City Schools.  The statewide graduation rate in 2010-11 was 77.9%.

The graduation rate in North Carolina is calculated based on the “4 year cohort” method, which tracks each entering ninth grade class to determine what percentage of that class graduates within the next four years.

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