The Troup County school system has increased its graduation rate.

With 79.2 percent of students meeting graduation requirements as of May, the rate is up 2.9 percentage points over the final graduation rate of 76.3 percent posted in October. When results of summer retests and credit recovery are added to this year’s number, the rate may even top 80 percent.

The figures come from the preliminary Adequate Yearly Progress report issued by the Georgia Department of Education,

“In Troup County schools we consider graduation as a ‘first step’ to a world of post secondary opportunities,” said Sylvia Hooker, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. “We impress upon every student, parent, teacher and school leader that it is not only the teaching and learning that happens in grades nine through twelve that is important. From the time students enter school on their first day of pre-K or kindergarten, earning their diploma and the knowledge that comes with meeting those requirements is the ultimate target. We are very proud of the steady progress our system is making toward the ultimate goal of academic mastery for all students.”

Over a seven-year period, the county has seen a 17.5 percentage-point increase in graduation rate. The state’s graduation rate reached 79.9 this year. By comparison, the increase over the past seven years is 14.5 percentage points.

Also included in the report was the preliminary AYP status for the system and each school. All elementary and middle schools in the system made AYP. However, the high schools and the system as a whole did not.

“In the provisions of the No Child Left Behind law, the bar for performance by every school and system in the country is being raised to meet the ultimate goal of 100 percent of students performing on grade level and graduating within four years of entering high school by the spring of 2014,” Hooker said. “This year, the bar for graduation rate is 80 percent. While students are achieving steady progress as evidenced by the gain in graduation rate and the remarkable increases we reported recently for CRCT, expectations are rising at a higher rate than some of our student subgroups can achieve.”

Adequate yearly progress is determined by a formula consisting of three parts: participation in reading/English language arts and math tests, academic performance in reading/English language arts and math, and a “second indicator,” which is graduation rate in high schools and attendance in elementary and middle schools. All Troup County schools met participation requirements, 85.7 percent met academic performance requirements and 90.5 percent met second indicator requirements.

While Ault Academy, which provides educational services for the at-risk adolescents of Twin Cedars Youth Services, is not governed or funded by the Troup County school board, it is recognized by the Georgia Department of Education as part of Troup County system when calculating AYP. A minimum number of students is required to be included in AYP calculations.

This year, there were not enough students at Ault Academy for statistically reliable data, so an AYP determination has not been made for the school.

Final AYP status, including the revised graduation rate, will be computed after the results of the summer retesting and credit recovery.

Final AYP status is expected in October.