Bulloch bests Georgia's graduation rate for fifth year
All three high schools posted gains
Based on data released on September 28 by the Georgia Department of Education, Bulloch County Schools’ graduation rates have outpaced Georgia’s for the fifth year in a row, and all three of its high schools posted gains.
“I congratulate the graduates of our Class of 2026 for their persistence and excellence in completing their graduation requirements,” said Dr. Torian White, superintendent of schools. “I also salute their parents and guardians, teachers, counselors, administrators, school and district support staff, and community members. The visible and invisible support of this village, spanning pre-K through 12th grade, has contributed to our students’ success throughout this important chapter of their lives.”
Superintendent White also offered special thanks to the high school administrators, teachers, counselors, and every individual who encounters and supports Bulloch County Schools’ students each day.
“The positive relationships they build with individual students create a sense of community and belonging that encourages students to persist and do their best,” White said.
Four-Year Graduation Rates
Bulloch County Schools’ four-year graduation rate of 89.92% is 1.38 percentage points higher than last year, and 1.42 points higher than the state’s rate of 88.5%. This is the district’s highest four-year rate over a five-year period. The district also met and surpassed its state performance target of 88.69% for all student graduates by 1.23 percentage points. Portal Middle High School posted the highest four-year rate of 96.10%, an increase of 4.74 percentage points. Southeast Bulloch’s rate is 94.18% (+2.71) and Statesboro’s is 86.39% (+0.18).
| Location | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 84.06 | 84.36 | 85.44 | 87.22 | 88.50 | |
| Bulloch | 85.02 | 89.17 | 89.68 | 88.54 | 89.92 | |
| Portal | 90.38 | 92.86 | 91.30 | 91.36 | 96.10 | |
| Southeast | 86.24 | 92.53 | 94.20 | 91.47 | 94.18 | |
| Statesboro | 83.38 | 86.42 | 86.65 | 86.21 | 86.39 |
Graduation Requirements
To be a candidate for graduation and obtain a high school diploma, a student must meet the State of Georgia's graduation requirements. These requirements are based on successfully earning 23 academic and elective course credits, not simply attending high school for four years and being classified as a senior in high school. If a high school student has ever failed a class and not successfully recovered those course credits, then the student may not be on track to graduate with his or her class. Bulloch County Schools provides course recovery options for students. Families may speak with their child’s high school counselor for options.
“Whether through community-based work experiences, dual enrollment at Ogeechee Technical College or Georgia Southern University, athletics, career pathways, fine arts, or other school-based programs, our students have more opportunities than ever to connect their learning with their interests and future goals,” Superintendent White said.Superintendent White noted that as the school district moves forward, it will continue to focus on individual students within its schools and classrooms while strengthening partnerships with families and the community.
“Our goal extends beyond graduation: We want every student prepared to pursue postsecondary success through employment, enlistment in the military, and/or enrollment in a college or technical school,” White said.
How Georgia Calculates Its Graduation Rate
The primary difference between a four-year and a five-year high school graduation rate in Georgia is the timeframe allowed for students in an entry cohort to earn a regular high school diploma. 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.