At a luncheon held Friday in Durham, Atkinson praised the districts for having the highest four-year cohort graduation rates among all districts and schools in the state in 2013-14.

 

“Our statewide graduation rate has climbed from 68 percent in 2006 to reach a record high of 83.9 percent in 2013-14,” said Atkinson in a statement. “This progress is the direct result of the work done in many of these districts and schools to ensure that nearly every student who enters high school leaves with a diploma. I applaud the superintendents, principals and teachers for their commitment to their students’ success. Our ultimate goal is to reach a statewide rate of 100 percent in the near future and their work brings us even closer to making that goal a reality.”

 

The award winners are:

 

-- Avery County Schools, 95 percent

 

-- Dare County Schools, 93.3 percent

 

-- Union County Public Schools, 92.6 percent

 

-- Newton-Conover City Schools, 92.5 percent

 

-- Alleghany County Schools, 92.3 percent

 

-- Yancey County Schools, 92.1 percent

 

-- Perquimans County Schools, 92.1 percent

 

-- Cherokee County Schools, 91 percent

 

-- Caldwell County Schools, 90.9 percent

 

-- Catawba County Schools, 90.8 percent

 

-- Burke County Schools, 90.8 percent

 

-- Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, 90.8 percent