Clarke County's graduation rate ticked up to 81.4% in 2019, just shy of Georgia's as a whole.

Both of the county's traditional high schools, Clarke Central and Cedar Shoals, beat the state average of 82%, with 83.7% and 83.5%, respectively. At the alternative Classic City High, 24 of 46, or 52%, of students graduated within four years.

The 82% figure is an all-time high for Georgia. The state graduation rate has increased by 12 points since the federal government changed the way graduation rates are calculated in 2012.

Clarke County's graduation rate leapt from 63.2% in 2014 to 80.3% in 2015. It was 80.1% in 2016, 79.4% in 2017 and 80.6% in 2018.

The 0.8% increase in 2018-19 came in Superintendent Demond Means' second year leading CCSD. He attributed the uptick to greater awareness of student progress throughout the school year, but also warned that just because students are graduating doesn't mean they're college and career ready.