Harris Literacy Center on Helping Address Local Graduation Declines
10/1/25, 4:00 PM
2 local schools see drop as Georgia’s graduation rate reaches record high
Originally from https://www.wrdw.com/2025/10/01/2-local-schools-see-drop-georgias-graduation-rate-reaches-record-high/
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Georgia’s high school seniors reached a new milestone in 2025, with the state’s four-year graduation rate climbing to an all-time high of 87.2%.
That’s up from 85.4% in 2024, marking significant year-over-year progress across the state and in the CSRA.
But while many schools showed improvement, two local high schools saw declines.
At Glenn Hills High School, 69% of students graduated, nearly a 9% drop from last year. Josey High School also saw a similar decrease, with only 66% of students crossing the stage, down 9% from 2024.
We spoke with leaders at Augusta University’s Literacy Center.
“While we really need parents on board, we also need to take away those barriers or help them alleviate some of the things that may be getting in the way,” said Betsy VanDeusen, director of Harris Literacy Center.
Across the country, only about 37% of students are considered proficient in reading.
While schools continue to work on how to help their students, so are local non-profits.
“Richmond really mirrors what’s going on in the country. We’re hearing Richmond County, through Georgia milestones, getting up to that 47, 48%. So that’s great, great news. But there’s just the scores for our students are back to pre-pandemic levels in some areas,” she said.
The Richmond County School System says their average daily attendance rate is 85.96% across all high schools last school year.
Nonprofits say consistent engagement is key.
“There is some indication that the things that we’re doing in the community are working,” she said. “That starts with the classroom, of course, and then with places like ours where we can supplement their instruction.”
But there’s always room for improvement. She meets with other nonprofits and leaders to see how else they can help.
“I think that’s sort of a broad way of looking at all of the things that go into making sure students are benefiting from school,” Vandeusen said.
District leaders say dropouts directly impact graduation rates, while valid transfers to other schools do not. Between 2021 and 2025, Richmond County Schools reported 414 student dropouts.