Holly High achieving its goals • Graduation rate fourth highest in state, dropout rate lowest
Holly Springs School District is celebrating the fact that Holly High has the fourth highest graduation rate in the entire state.
According to information obtained from Mississippi Department of Education, the graduation rate at the high school continues to increase each year. Last year, the district set a new record when it obtained a graduation rate of 91 percent, the sixth highest in the state. This year, the graduation rate increased to 96 percent, breaking the previous record. As the high school’s graduation rate has increased, the dropout rate has continued to decrease, resulting in the lowest dropout rate in the history of the district and the lowest dropout rate in the state of Mississippi.
“The first goal in our strategic plan is related to increasing the number of students graduating annually and ensuring students are college and career ready,” said superintendent of education Irene Walton Turnage. “We are always humbled when we reach goals that have such a great impact in the lives of our children.”
Obtaining a high school diploma is the first major milestone in the educational life of a student. It opens the door for students to continue on a path to a successful career whether that career involves continuing their education in a two- or four-year college, trade school, or going directly into the workforce, she said.
Staff members in the school and district understand that doing something as powerful as helping students to achieve their goal of obtaining a diploma and increasing the number of students graduating are not something they can do alone, according to Turnage.
“It takes a village to increase graduation rates and ensure students are college and career ready,” she said.
The district has placed a full page in this week’s newspaper to thank some of the stakeholders who have helped the school and district achieve such a great honor, but space is not available to thank everyone individually.
“We are extremely grateful for everyone’s support,” Turnage said.