Atlanta Public Schools is cheering 2016 graduation rates. 11Alive is digging into the numbers to verify the facts.
CLAIM: Atlanta Public Schools maintained "dramatic gains"
FACT: APS graduation rates made a huge jump between 2015 and 2016. Going back to 2011, graduation rates stayed under 60% all the way through 2014. In 2015, the rate jumped to 71.5%. In 2016, that rate dropped very slightly to 71.1%.
CLAIM: Largest number of APS graduates in recent years.
FACT: Even thorough graduation rates fell slightly in 2015, APS had more students graduate in four years. The numbers grew from 1,816 in 2013 to 2,267 in 2016.
CLAIM: Four schools achieved significant increases in graduation rates.
FACT: The schools named included Carver Early College (98.7%), KIPP Atlanta Collegiate (92.9%), Coretta Scott King Young Women's Leadership Academy (89.7%), North Atlanta (88.3%), and Grady High School (86.4%).
CLAIM: Overall, APS graduation rates are below statewide rates
FACT: APS graduation rates are at 71.1%; the statewide rate is 79.2%.
CLAIM: The district has "maintained progress in graduating more students."
FACT: The four-year graduate count has grown in three out of the last four years. The only dip occurred in 2014, which dropped from 1,816 to 1,775. Since then, APS has graduated 2,116 in 2015 and 2,267 in 2016.
