Georgia’s high school graduation rate has reached another all-time high, with 88.5% of students in the Class of 2026 earning their diplomas within four years.
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The rate increased from 87.2% for the Class of 2025 and marks the highest graduation rate since Georgia began using the federally required adjusted cohort calculation in 2011.
Georgia’s graduation rate has steadily increased from 67.4% in 2011 to 88.5% in 2026.
A total of 147 school districts posted graduation rates of at least 90%, while 69 districts achieved rates of 95% or higher.
“I’m incredibly proud of the Class of 2026, and the teachers, families, school and district staff, and communities who supported them,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said in a statement. “It’s important to us that we’re not just increasing the graduation rate, but ensuring students graduate prepared for life.”
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APS Surpasses State Average
Atlanta Public Schools also set a new record, reporting a district graduation rate of 91.2%, outperforming the state average by nearly three percentage points.
According to APS, the district has now recorded seven consecutive years of graduation rate growth. The Class of 2026 saw 3,220 students graduate on time, an increase of 125 graduates from the previous year.
“This milestone reflects the commitment, resilience and hard work of our students, educators, school leaders, Board of Education and entire APS community,” APS Superintendent Dr. Bryan Johnson said.
Of the district’s 16 high schools with graduating classes, nine improved their graduation rates compared to 2025, and three schools achieved a perfect 100% graduation rate:
- Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy
- Drew Charter School
- BEST Academy
Several schools posted significant year-over-year gains, including Booker T. Washington High School (+7.35 percentage points), South Atlanta High School (+5.34 points), and Frederick Douglass High School (+2.87 points).
APS reported record graduation rates among several student groups, including:
- Black students: 90.05%
- Students with disabilities: 85.74%
- English learners: 87.43%
- Economically disadvantaged students: 89.69%
District officials also noted that the graduation-rate gap between Black and White students has continued to shrink, falling to 7.94 percentage points.
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