Graduation rate nets accolades

As the result of recently attaining an 81.6 percent graduation rate, Alleghany County Schools was among the top 10 school systems recognized Sept. 8 by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) in Raleigh. The event served to kick off Graduation Awareness Week.

Alleghany ranked number six, with neighboring Elkin City Schools nabbing the top spot with an 89.4 percent graduation rate and neighboring Ashe County being in the 10th spot with an 80.9 percent graduation rate. During a brief phone interview Monday, Alleghany High School Principal Paul Crouse commented, "It's nice the state is recognizing schools that are reaching out to the kids and trying to get them to graduate, which is what we're trying to do." For the achievement, Crouse credits teachers "and the climate of school they've created to help give kids a positive place to grow and learn."

Of the Raleigh experience, he noted it was "pretty neat."

Superintendent Jeff Cox offered, "We were very pleased to have an opportunity to go to Raleigh and participate in the recognition ceremony. To be in the top 10 of school districts in the state in any academic area is a real achievement." Cox offered a special thanks to the staff of AHS and the school system's social worker, Anne Marie Erhardt.

 

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