HANCOCK COUNTY — The start of a new school year is just a couple days away for county students with the class of 2025. The graduation rates for the class of 2024 won’t be released until sometime in December or early January, but the 2023 grad rates are available for review.
Officials from the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) noted the 2023 state graduation rate is the highest since 2016 and the third highest on record at 88.98%. That figure is up from 86.65% in 2022. The state’s highest graduation rate was in 2014 at 90.06%, which is 1.08 percentage points higher than the class of 2023.
Locally, three of the four county high schools are well above the state average with one district, Greenfield-Central High School, below the state average. Eastern Hancock High School set the pace in the county with the highest grad rate at 97.78%.
According to state records from the IDOE, Greenfield-Central’s class of 2023 had a grad rate of 87.76%. The class, which was the largest in the county, started with 384 students with only 338 graduating.
Greenfield-Central superintendent Harold Olin noted there was disappointment among educators when district officials saw the graduation rate dropped below 90%.
“After having multiple years in a row at or above 90%, we were definitely disappointed with the graduation rate of 87.7%,” Olin said. “Some cohorts simply face more challenges than others, and we did not do enough to meet those needs.”
Olin went on to say district officials know any time a student fails to graduate from high school, he or she creates an uphill path through adulthood.
“Therefore, we will continue to work with our families to ensure that they understand all of the paths we provide that lead to graduation,” Olin said.
Eastern Hancock superintendent George Philhower noted while their cohort is much smaller than most county schools, with 90 students in the class of 2023 and 88 graduating, he’s very proud of the Eastern Hancock High School rate.
“We are always proud of the achievements of our students and staff at Eastern Hancock,” Philhower said. “These results reflect our commitment to our district’s four promises of Joy, Connection, Growth and Success.”
Philhower noted by creating a fun and supportive environment, building strong relationships and helping every student grow and succeed, they’re setting their graduates up for amazing futures.
Students with New Palestine High School’s Class of 2023 had the second-highest grad rate in the county with a 96.95% graduation rate. Their cohort started with 295 students and showed 286 were able to graduate.
New Palestine community relations director Craig Smith said district officials were thrilled to see the rate go up from their 2022 graduation rate.
“In 2023, New Palestine Community Schools celebrated their increased graduation rate from 95.79% in 2022 to 96.95% in 2023,” Smith said. “We are proud of our students, staff and families’ hard work in helping our graduates attain this important academic milestone.”
Smith noted district officials feel like they’ll have another above average rate in 2024 when those numbers are released in about five months.
“We look forward to seeing our 2024 graduation rate later this year as we strive to have all our students reach their full potential as they pursue their personal best,” Smith said.
Officials with the Mt. Vernon Community Schools district were just as pleased with their graduation rate as the class of 2023 was well over the state average of 88.98% at 95.31%. Mt. Vernon High School had the second largest cohort in 2023 behind Greenfield-Central with 320 students. They showed 305 of those students graduated.
Mt. Vernon High School principal Brooke Tharp said educators were thrilled records show their 2023 grad rate improved from their 2022 figure.
“Our staff worked incredibly hard to ensure that all students were supported,” Tharp said. “We also appreciate the numerous ways parents support our efforts. That being said, we are always striving for a 100% graduation rate, preparing all students for their post-high school goals.”
That’s a view held by Governor Eric Holcomb, who noted the importance of graduation rates, having young teens head into adulthood with a good step earning a high school diploma.
“Earning a high school diploma is essential to unlocking a successful future,” said Gov. Holcomb in a release. “In the years since the pandemic, educators across the state have worked hard to ensure our students — our state’s future leaders — are more prepared than ever to emerge from high school and thrive. Through this work, Hoosier educators are helping students gain the knowledge and skills, as well as the confidence they need to determine their destiny.”
Due to differences between federal and state accountability equations and standards, IDOE also released 2023 federal graduation rates. In 2023, Indiana’s federal graduation rate was 87.52% an increase from the 85.12% in 2022.
