Georgia's high school seniors recorded another historic high graduation rate in 2026. The four-year graduation rate rose to 88.5% — up from 87.2% in 2026, and an all-time high since the state began using the adjusted cohort calculation first required in 2011 by federal law.

A total of 147 Georgia school districts recorded graduation rates at or above 90%, and 69 districts recorded rates at or above 95%. Georgia's statewide graduation rate has increased by 21.1 percentage points since 2011.

"I'm incredibly proud of the class of 2026, and the teachers, families, school and district staff, and communities who supported them," State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. "It's important to us that we're not just increasing the graduation rate, but ensuring students graduate prepared for life. Together with schools, districts, and partners across the state, we're ensuring that the high-school diploma in Georgia is a ticket to a successful future. Today's news is a testament to our shared efforts to ensure Georgia students see the relevance of their education and are connected to opportunity in the future."

The Georgia Department of Education, school districts, schools, business leaders, and partners across the state have worked together to ensure Georgia high school graduates have a clear pathway to successful, fulfilling lives and careers in the state's high-demand industries. From programs like Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education to increased investments in the fine arts, a high school education in Georgia increasingly prepares students for a wide array of opportunities after high school. Under the leadership of Superintendent Woods and the State Board of Education, Georgia has also expanded diploma options, with pathways like the Accelerated Career Diploma and Work-Based Learning Diploma helping students prepare for skilled careers. Graduation rate is one of several outcomes that have consistently improved for Georgia students, with this year's Georgia Milestones assessments showing several all-time highs in mathematics and students beating the national average on the SAT and ACT for several years in a row. 

How Georgia calculates its graduation rate

Georgia calculates a four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate as required by federal law. This rate is: 

• The number of students who graduate in four years with a regular high school diploma or state-defined alternate diploma, divided by
• The number of students who form the adjusted cohort for the graduating class

Adjusted Cohort Definition: From the beginning of ninth grade, students entering that grade form a cohort that is subsequently adjusted by adding any students who transfer into the cohort during the next three years and subtracting any students who transfer out — for example, by transferring to another school district in Georgia or a school in another state.

Georgia Graduation Rates — 2011 to 2026

2026 — 88.5% 
2025 — 87.2% 
2024 — 85.4%
2023 — 84.4%
2022 — 84.1%
2021 — 83.7%
2020 — 83.8%
2019 — 82.0%
2018 — 81.6%
2017 — 80.6%
2016 — 79.4%
2015 — 79.0%
2014 — 72.6%
2013 — 71.8%
2012 — 68.7%
2011 — 67.4%