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Home > Community Engagement > Graduate Greenville

GRADUATE GREENVILLE

In 2005, almost four out of every five high school students in Greenville County Schools (GCS) graduated within four years, 79.3% according to the measure used by the State Department of Education.  Consequently, in the spring of 2005, Greenville County Schools, United Way of Greenville County, and The Alliance for Quality Education (AFQE) formed a partnership to initiate and support a community-wide effort to improve high school success and increase the graduation rate.  The partnership established a steering committee consisting of community and school leaders to guide the development of-the GRADUATE GREENVILLE Community Action Plan. 

The GRADUATE GREENVILLE Community Action Plan is a road map for actions the Greenville County community can take to partner with Greenville County Schools (GCS) to increase high school success and dramatically improve the high school graduation rate in Greenville County.  Our public high schools and the performance of our students are only as good as the public-our community-wants them to be.  Increasing the high school graduation rate is a community issue requiring a community solution.

Scope of the Problem

  • Annual dropout salary is $9,200 less than for a high school graduate.
  • Dropouts are 2.5 times as likely to live in poverty and two times as likely to be unemployed. 
  • Dropouts are 8 times more likely than high school graduates to be in jail or prison.
  • The number of jobs requiring education beyond high school is growing twice as fast as jobs requiring on-the-job training.
  • Converting a year's dropouts to graduates would increase personal income in South Carolina by $8 billion over the life of these students.

Current Actions

  • Early warning system to identify "at-risk" students as they enter high school.
  • Summer enrichment programs for rising, at-risk ninth graders.
  • Focused assistance to groups of identified students:
    • Graduation coaches
    • Volunteer mentors
    • Community service opportunities
  • Support for existing tutoring programs at high schools.
  • Teacher professional development focused on teaching at-risk students.
  • Exploration of additional high school options.
  • Annual "Opening Doors to Success" event to find potential dropouts.
  • Ongoing outreach to struggling students, dropouts, and their families via the The Alliance for Quality Education (AFQE) website and 24/7 phone line as well as neighborhood outreach activities.

GRADUATE GREENVILLE is a unique partnership currently working in three high schools: Berea, Greenville, and Greer.  As we continue to fine tune our strategies, expand the number of partners and evaluate progress, we will expand to other high schools.  To be involved in this initiative, please visit www.GraduateGreenville.org.