Citrus County’s Graduation Rates Continue to Climb

Citrus County’s Graduation Rates Continue to Climb
Posted on 01/21/2020
high school graduation

Citrus County students are working hard and it shows! The Citrus County School District is proud to announce that the graduation rate rose to an incredible 86 percent.  Citrus County increased by approximately 2% which is a greater increase than the state average (an increase of only 0.9%).  This was a significant improvement compared to last year’s rate of 84 percent.

All three Citrus County high schools continue to out-perform Florida’s Standard 4-Year Diploma Graduation Rate of 86.9% and Citrus County’s Standard 4-Year Diploma Graduation Rate of 86%, which includes all our high schools and additional schools like CREST, Renaissance, and Cypress Creek.

Over the past five years, our three high schools have made significant gains in graduation rates.

  • Citrus High School improved by 13.5% - From 78.9% in 2015 to 92.4% in 2019
  • Crystal River High School improved by 13.8% - From 74.1% in 2015 to 87.9% in 2019
  • Lecanto High School improved by 10.1% - From 86.5% in 2015 to 96.6% in 2019

Florida’s graduation rate is a cohort graduation rate. A cohort is defined as a group of students on the same schedule to graduate. The graduation rate measures the percentage of students who graduate within four years of their first enrollment in ninth grade.

The district’s graduation rate of 86 percent is comprised of students from our three high schools and alternative learning schools, such as CREST, Renaissance, and Cypress Creek Juvenile Detention Facility.

Citrus County made greater improvements in the graduation rates of all students, students with disabilities and economically disadvantaged students when compared to the state average. The most significant improvement was with students with disabilities. The graduation rate of students with disabilities in Citrus County increased 6.7 percent from last year, while the state increased by 3.6 percent.

“Our community and school district should be proud of this exceptional performance,” said Superintendent Sam Himmel. “Regardless of your role as teacher, neighbor, coach, business leader or support services staff, you all play a part in connecting, inspiring and supporting our students across the finish line.”

Citrus County’s current graduation rate is 86 percent, but that does not mean that 14 percent of students in the cohort are dropouts. Students in a cohort can be classified as graduates, dropouts or nongraduates. Nongraduates, 6.8% of the 2019 cohort, are students who are still enrolled and scheduled to earn a diploma, attending adult education, earned a certificate of completion, or earned a GED-based diploma.

“Our district always strives to do what is best for kids. We recognize that some students need additional time beyond four years to earn a diploma or may take an alternative path, like transferring to an adult education program, or earn a GED-based diploma. Even though these students hinder the graduation rate because they are categorized as ‘nongraduates’ at the time graduation rates are calculated, they do reach a level of success that will allow them to enter college or a career path,” said Amy Crowell, Director of Research and Accountability.

More information can be found on the Florida Department of Education's website: https://bit.ly/36E3iQN