DEEPER DIVE: How does Baldwin's graduation rate compare?

Baldwin High's graduation rate has been above the statewide average for nine years in a row now, according to recently released data from the Georgia Department of Education.

The BCSD's graduation rate for the 2022-2023 school year was placed at 89.2 percent, roughly five percentage points higher than the statewide average of 84.4 percent.

Below is a list of Baldwin and neighboring county school systems' most recent graduation rates. Also included is nearby Bibb:

•Baldwin – 263 students out of a possible 296 (89.2 percent)

• Hancock – 53 students out of a possible 64 (82.8 percent)

• Bibb – 1,131 students out of a possible 1,299 (87.1 percent)

• Jones – 370 students out of a possible 422 (87.7 percent)

• Putnam – 199 students out of a possible 227 (87.7 percent)

• Washington – 194 students out of a possible 207 (93.7 percent)

• Wilkinson – 87 students out of a possible 88 (98.9 percent)

• Statewide – N/A (84.4 percent )

"This remarkable progress reflects a significant improvement since 2014 when BCSD's graduation rate stood at 66%, marking an increase of 23.2 percentage points over the past nine years," wrote the school district in a press release. "BCSD's commitment to enhancing educational outcomes for students has consistently positioned it ahead of the state average, underlining its dedication to ensuring students have opportunities after graduation."

The BCSD's graduation rate shot up a whopping 27.5 percentage points between 2013 and 2019, going from 64.8 percent to 92.3 percent. A similar phenomenon was recorded in the nearby Bibb County School District, where the graduation rate for the 2012-2013 school year was 61.1 percent. Most recently, meanwhile, Bibb's graduation rate was placed at 87.1 percent, an increase of 26 percentage points.

Below is a snapshot of Baldwin's graduation rate over the years, with the bold-font number representing the BCSD's graduation rate and the second number the statewide average:

• 2012-2013 – 64.8 // 71.8

• 2013-2014 –66.6 // 72.6

• 2014-2015 – 79.8 // 78.8

• 2015-2016 – 86.1 // 79.4

• 2016-2017 – 88.1 // 80.56

 • 2017–2018 – 92.3 // 81.6

• 2018–2019 –  90.7 //82.0

• 2019-2020 – 85.0 // 83.8

• 2020-2021 – 84.8 // 83.7

• 2021-2022 –88.5 // 84.1

• 2022-2023– 89.2 // 84.4

According to the BCSD media release, the graduation rate is calculated by taking "the number of students who graduate in four years with a regular high school diploma divided by the number of students who form the adjusted cohort for the graduating class."

"Adjusted cohort rate," according to the press release, is defined as from "the beginning of ninth grade, students who are entering that grade for the first time form a cohort that is subsequently adjusted by adding any students who transfer into the cohort during the next three years and subtracting any students who transfer out."

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