Bibb County School District’s high school graduation rate increased in 2023 to 87.07% from 80.98% in 2022 – an all-time high for the District since the state began using the adjusted cohort calculation required by federal law with the Class of 2012. In fact, each of Bibb County’s seven schools not only demonstrated increases in graduation rate in 2023 compared to 2022, but for the first time ever all seven schools scored a graduation rate of at least 80% or higher.

“I am super proud of all our schools and this entire district for our 87.07% graduation rate. Such a great deal of hard work went in last year – and not just last year, but over the years – to get us to this fantastic graduation rate, and we’re just excited as to what it means for those students who go on to do great things,” said Superintendent Dr. Dan A. Sims.

The District’s overall graduation rate has increased about 35 percentage points in the past decade, up from an overall District graduation rate of 52.3% in 2012. A standout for the District is Central High School, earning the District’s highest ever graduation rate of 96.41% for the Class of 2023. Read below for highlights from each school’s principal about how their teams have accomplished this outstanding achievement.

Mission: The BCSD maximizes student achievement and social-emotional well-being by building a sense of community in safe, equitable learning environments. Vision: Students are empowered to learn, lead, innovate, and serve as productive and caring citizens within their chosen paths of success.

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL – Principal Dr. Chendra Dupree

I am deeply honored to share a significant achievement by Central High School. It brings me great pride to announce that not only have we sustained a commendable 90.14 percent graduation rate from last year, but we have also achieved an even higher percentage at 96.41 percent this year. I'm excited to share the story behind this success and the factors that have propelled us to new heights in education.

At the heart of our success is the Charger Success Initiative (C.S.I.), which embodies our commitment to holistic education serving the whole child. This initiative ensures that we address the comprehensive needs of our students, providing not only rigorous academics but also a robust system of non-academic support. Through our C.S.I., we have been able to expand educational opportunities that diversify our educational offerings, providing a wide array of courses and activities to cater to our students' diverse interests and aspirations. We are not only maximizing student engagement but also ensuring the relevance of learning.

Pivotal to this success is our innovative data-driven What I Need (W.I.N.) period, which is a critical component of our C.S.I. During this dedicated time within the school day, students receive personalized instruction tailored to their specific needs. It ensures that every student receives individualized attention to excel academically.

Collectively, this remarkable increase in our graduation rate is a testament to the unwavering dedication and hard work of our students, teachers, staff, and the invaluable contributions of our Graduation Coach and Counseling Team. Together, we're setting our students on a path to success, both in the classroom and beyond high school.

HOWARD HIGH SCHOOL – Principal Michael Scott

Howard High School is extremely proud of our 2023 cohort graduation rate, which can be attributed to the collective effort of our teachers, staff, parents, community stakeholders, and students. At Howard High School, we are committed to being “All In” and working together to ensure the highest quality of education for every student. Our partnership with parents and students begins in the 9th grade, as we collaborate to determine a personalized education plan considering the most viable career and post-secondary pathways for student success.

Additionally, we utilize our grade level counselors, P.A.C.K. Time Advisement teachers, responsive student scheduling, and school-level graduation coach to support students as they progress toward graduation and pathway completion. Students are developed to take ownership of their education by participating in weekly advisement sessions to set, track, and monitor personalized learning goals. Lastly, Howard High School teachers and staff are trained to implement high impact, evidence- based, and research-based strategies in the classroom to enhance and accelerate student learning at every level.

We look forward to more progress and success as we continue to build toward ensuring all students are empowered to learn, lead, innovate and serve as productive and caring citizens within their chosen paths of success. #GoHuskies!

NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL – Principal Donna Walker Thompson

The fruits of our labor are not a matter of chance. Our graduation rate stands as a testament to the incredible efforts we've poured into all of our East Macon schools. Having a clear vision and consistently sharing it with our students, faculty, staff, and stakeholders has been crucial in achieving what we have. We are a community dedicated to ensuring positive outcomes for every student who lives in our feeder zone. At the core of this vision lies our emphasis on building meaningful relationships. Understanding the emotional needs of each student sets the stage for them to feel acknowledged and supported.

These relationships extend beyond just teacher-student connections; they also reflect our commitment to one another, as we strive to bring our very best to school every day. Our faculty and staff not only care deeply for our students, but also work diligently to deliver clear instruction and engaging learning experiences. It’s the Raider Nation for me!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mission: The BCSD maximizes student achievement and social-emotional well-being by building a sense of community in safe, equitable learning environments. Vision: Students are empowered to learn, lead, innovate, and serve as productive and caring citizens within their chosen paths of success.

RUTLAND HIGH SCHOOL – Principal Dr. Wendy Pooler

SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL – Principal A. Bernard Young

I am thrilled to share our incredible journey, where we achieved an impressive 11-point increase in our graduation rate through teamwork and innovative strategies. Our low graduation rate last year troubled us deeply, and we knew that transformative changes were essential. Our implementation of the Ubuntu philosophy (I Am Because We Are) challenges our students to hold themselves accountable individually and each other accountable collectively.

We created a dedicated team and implemented a comprehensive approach, focusing on academic support, a positive school culture, and individualized student care. By using data-driven decision-making, we monitored progress closely. Our results are a testament to the commitment of our students and the entire village of Southwest. While we celebrate this achievement, we remain committed to our students’ success and are determined to build upon our accomplishments, ensuring every student reaches their full potential. I could not be more proud, and I would like to thank the Class of 2023 for setting a solid foundation for ensuring we are #Built4Bibb.

WESTSIDE HIGH SCHOOL – Principal Michael “Chip” Horton, Jr.

Achieving a graduation rate of 84.52% for the Westside High School Class of 2023 took an intentional effort on the part of all stakeholders. In 2019, as ninth graders, this class became the inaugural class of our Freshman Academy. Special attention was given to their attendance, grades, behavior, and social well-being.

After completing a S.W.O.T analysis, we identified that students were in need of wrap-around services that were not being provided. We invested our grant funds in personnel who could provide direct support to our students while they were at school, which helped them address their social and emotional needs.

Open lines of communication between our feeder schools allowed us to take a more individualized approach to reaching each student, by learning about their specific needs before they arrived at Westside High School. This began the Westside Winning spirit of collaboration throughout our zone schools.

The support from our district office has been amazing. The effort that has been placed on ensuring that our school received any supplies and support that was needed to ensure the success of all students, always happened.

VIP ACADEMY – Principal Dr. Julia Daniely

Every year, I witness the rewarding achievements of graduating students. However, the true reward lies in witnessing their confident strides across the stage, fully prepared for college, careers, and life beyond. At VIP Academy, we believe that the

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mission: The BCSD maximizes student achievement and social-emotional well-being by building a sense of community in safe, equitable learning environments. Vision: Students are empowered to learn, lead, innovate, and serve as productive and caring citizens within their chosen paths of success.

most rewarding aspect of virtual school is our ability to equip parents and guardians with the skills to serve as effective learning coaches within their own homes.

By sharing the responsibility of overseeing their child’s daily accomplishments, parents become instrumental in the virtual learning journey. Today, we celebrate these dedicated parents for their unwavering commitment and the sustainability they bring to the graduation rate. Their choice to transform their homes into a Bibb classroom is truly commendable.