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Sarasota County schools sees historic high school graduation rate

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Published  January 10, 2025 4:55pm EST
Sarasota
FOX 13 News

Sarasota sees success in graduation rates

Kimberly Kuizon reports.

The Brief

    • Sarasota County Schools saw big success in the number of graduates from the 2023-2024 school year.
    • Sarasota County Superintendent Terry Connor called the success a ‘community effort.’
    • Two schools in the district had 100% of it's seniors graduate.

SARASOTA, Fla. - Newly released state graduation rates show huge improvements for Sarasota County Schools. The district saw its biggest success in graduates from the 2023-2024 school year. 

"It is a community effort, this is the result of our community effort," said Terry Connor, the Sarasota County Schools superintendent. 

"That is a historic, record-breaking graduation rate with a graduation rate of 92.5%," said Connor. 

READ: Florida lawmakers once again eye ending exit exams for students

The past year's rate was 90.3%, meaning a 2% increase in graduates. Connor said staff dedicated themselves to meeting students where they were. 

"Knowing they had an adult who cared was really important and then connecting and knowing what their needs were," he said. "Extra tutoring, if it’s extra support, if there are some wrap-around services to get them to school on time. The individual pathways for every student is the key to do that and that’s what we’ll continue to do."

Pine View School and Suncoast Polytechnical High School had 100% of seniors graduate. Booker High Schools’ rate went up five points to more than 90.6%. 

"We were meeting, talking and encouraging those students to succeed," said Booker High School Principal Rachel Shelley. 

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They also thought outside the box. Shelley said a graduation coach would help out on weekends and outside the school walls with things like "Breakfast of Champions," which was used to celebrate educational gains.

"Whether it was the bus driver or someone in the cafeteria, everyone was a part of making this accomplishment a reality," said Shelley. 

The increase in Sarasota County’s graduation rate moves the district's ranking from 19th to 13th place statewide. Connor said they are not finished. 

"We are excited where we are at, but we are not satisfied," he said. "We will continue to push forward, and we will not stop till we reach 100% graduation rate. We have a mission. Every student, every day and when every student graduates, then we have fulfilled that mission."

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