The APS Class of 2026 reports the highest percentage of on-time graduates to date as the district graduation rate increases by 0.7 percentage points from last year. Atlanta Public Schools (APS) Class of 2026 has set a new all-time high graduation rate for the district with 91.2 percent of students graduating high school within four years, outperforming the state average of 88.5 percent, according to the Georgia Department of Education, which officially released graduation rates for the Class of 2026 today. This marks the district’s seventh consecutive year of rising graduation rates, with a 0.7 percent increase compared to the class of 2025. Figure 1: APS Graduation Rate 2016 – 2026 “We are proud to celebrate this significant achievement and what it represents for students across Atlanta Public Schools,” said APS Superintendent Dr. Bryan Johnson. “This milestone reflects the commitment, resilience and hard work of our students, educators, school leaders, Board of Education and entire APS community. While we celebrate this progress, our work continues. We remain focused on ensuring every APS graduate leaves high school prepared for the future they choose.” A Deeper Dive A total of 3,220 APS students graduated on time in 2026, an increase of 125 graduates from 2025, when 3,095 students graduated. The 2026 graduation rate is the highest APS has recorded since Georgia adopted the federally required cohort graduation rate in 2012. Of the 16 APS schools with graduating classes, 9 improved their graduation rates compared with 2025, and three schools achieved a 100 percent graduation rate. Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Academy maintained its 100 percent graduation rate for the eighth consecutive year. Drew Charter School and Business Engineering Science Technology (BEST) Academy also achieved a 100 percent graduation rate in 2026. Several schools recorded notable gains in their graduation rates: Booker T. Washington High School: +7.35 percentage points South Atlanta High School: +5.34 percentage points Frederick Douglass High School: +2.87 percentage points BEST Academy: +2.56 percentage points Drew Charter School: +1.82 percentage points Benjamin E. Mays High School: +1.34 percentage points Therrell High School: +1.34 percentage points KIPP Collegiate: +0.85 percentage points Figure 2: 2026 APS Graduation Rates and Change from 2025 Schools with Graduation Rates Above 90 Percent In 2026, 14 APS schools had graduation rates above 90 percent, including three schools that achieved a 100 percent graduation rate: Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy: 100% Drew Charter School: 100% BEST Academy: 100% KIPP Collegiate: 97.50% Midtown High School: 95.85% Atlanta Classical Academy: 94.59% Carver Early College: 93.24% Booker T. Washington High School: 92.70% Frederick Douglass High School: 92.25% South Atlanta High School: 91.85% Therrell High School: 91.80% North Atlanta High School: 91.57% Maynard Jackson High School: 90.30% Benjamin E. Mays High School: 90.06% Subgroup Graduation Rates Reach All-Time Highs The graduation rate for Black students reached a record high of 90.05% in 2026, while the graduation rate for White students was 97.99%, an increase from 2025. The gap between the graduation rates of Black and White students also continues to narrow, decreasing to 7.94 percentage points in 2026 from nearly 11 percentage points in 2024. The graduation rate for students with disabilities reached a record high of 85.74%, while the graduation rate for English learners reached a record high of 87.43%, an increase of 4.82 percentage points from 2025. The graduation rate for economically disadvantaged students also reached a record high of 89.69%. Figure 3: 2026 APS Graduation Rates by Subgroup “The Class of 2026 has set a new benchmark for Atlanta Public Schools, achieving a record graduation rate of 91.19 percent. This achievement reflects the continued progress we are seeing across our schools and the determination of our students to reach their goals. These gains are both historic and inspiring,” said Atlanta Board of Education Chair Jessica Johnson. “This achievement is a reflection of what is possible when our students are supported by dedicated educators, engaged families, committed community partners, and strong leadership. The progress we are seeing is encouraging, but it also reinforces the importance of continuing this work. As a Board, we will remain focused on ensuring every APS student to graduate prepared for the next chapter.” # # # Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate Georgia has calculated an adjusted cohort graduation rate as required by federal law since 2012, and this calculation has not changed over this period. APS only reports the official state graduation rate. The four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate is the number of students who graduate in four years with a regular high school diploma divided by the number of students who form the adjusted cohort for the graduating class. From the beginning of ninth grade, students who are entering that grade for the first time form a cohort that is subsequently “adjusted” by adding any students who transfer into the cohort during the next four years and subtracting any students who transfer out. Students who drop-out remain in a four-year adjusted cohort. Share this: Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email Print (Opens in new window) Print More Share on X (Opens in new window) X Like this:Like Loading… Discover more from APS Today Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe Post navigation Atlanta Public Schools Athletics Roundup (Sept. 20-Sept. 25, 2026)
