All-Time High Four-Year Graduation Rate

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) announced an all-time high in the state’s four-year cohort graduation rate – 86.39%. We are very pleased to announce that the 2014 Dorchester County Public Schools’ (DCPS) four-year cohort high school graduation rate rose by 4.09 percentage points to a rate of 87.90 percent – or 1.51% above the state average.

Dr. Henry V. Wagner, Jr., Ed.D., Superintendent of Dorchester County Public Schools, said, “These gains in this most critical data point may be attributed to the collective efforts of our students, staff, parents, and community partners over a period of many years and throughout all levels (elementary, middle, and high) of our educational program. Task forces at all three levels, as well as for minority achievement, have been focusing on the graduation rate as a priority data point.”

Dr. Wagner also noted that the gains reflect dedicated programs and grant acquisitions realized over the past five years through the leadership of Dr. James Bell and the Office of Student Services as well as a community-wide team effort.

DCPS will not be satisfied until the graduation rate is 100%; nevertheless, they celebrate the following four-year cohort graduation rate trends since 2010:  2010 – 77.84%, 2011 – 78.53%, 2012 – 79.20%, 2013 – 83.81%, and 2014 – 87.90%.

This remarkable trend data was highlighted by MSDE at a meeting of the Maryland State Board. To learn more about Dorchester County Public Schools, please visit www.dcps.k12.md.us/.