Hampton City Schools: Continues to Make HCS History with Highest On-time Graduation Rate to Date – 97.64%

The HIGHEST ON-TIME GRADUATION RATE AND LOWEST DROPOUT RATE of the 15 districts in the region which includes all of the school divisions in Hampton Roads from the Southside, Peninsula and Eastern Shore

Hampton City Schools Class of 2022 (1,408 students) posted the highest division on-time graduation rate since 2008, the year the Virginia Department of Education initiated cohort-based calculations for graduation and dropout rates.

On-time Graduation Rate: The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) reported 97.64% of Hampton’s 2022 graduates earned their diplomas in four years, surpassing the statewide average of 92.12%. 

Hampton’s on-time graduation rate is the highest on-time graduation rate in the region. Also, Hampton has the highest rate in the Commonwealth of Virginia when compared to school divisions that have over 500 students in the Class of 2022. 

With the division’s focus on equity, on-time graduation rates continue to climb for student performance groups who are historically underrepresented. 

• Specifically, our students with disabilities have an on-time graduation rate of 99.49%, compared to the state average of 89.9%. 

• Our homeless student population has an on-time graduation rate of 100%, compared to the state average of 76.46%.

• Our economically disadvantaged students outpaced the state with an on-time graduation rate of 96.82%, compared to the state average of 87.71%.

• Looking at the student group of African American students, Hampton’s on-time graduation rate is 97.5%, compared to the state average of 90.27%.

• Our Hispanic students’ on-time graduation rate is 98.97%, compared to the state’s average of 83.12%.

• Our English Learners (students who speak English as a second language) graduated on-time at a rate of 90.91%, compared to the state’s average of 72.69%.

Dr. Raymond Haynes, chief of secondary school leadership, states, “We have a lot to be proud of and celebrate when looking at the overall achievement and success of our students. In addition to posting our highest on-time graduation rate in HCS history at nearly 98%, 19 of our 22 student performance groups have higher than a 95% rate and all student performance groups outpaced the state average. We remain committed to keeping the course of every student graduating the Portrait of a Hampton Graduate.” 

To view the comparison of Hampton’s 22 student performance groups to the state’s student performance groups, click here. 

Students who earn high school equivalency certificates — such as a GED — or complete high school without earning a diploma are not included as graduates in calculating on-time graduation rates. Hampton City Schools is proud of our students who graduated on-time with a diploma, as well as our students who earn a GED or a certificate of completion. Hampton City Schools completion rate for all of our students for the Class of 2022 (i.e., diplomas, GED, certificate of completion) is 97.85% compared to the state average of 93.00%.

Dropout Rate: The dropout rate for the Class of 2022 in the Commonwealth of Virginia is 5.19%. Hampton’s 2022 dropout rate is 0.62%, compared to the division’s dropout rate of 14.1% in 2008. 

• Hampton City Schools dropout rate of 0.62% is the lowest dropout rate of the 15 school divisions that comprise Region II, which includes all of the school divisions in Hampton Roads from the Southside, Peninsula and Eastern Shore.  
• The division has the lowest dropout rate in the Commonwealth of Virginia excluding six school divisions in the state with less than 283 students in the Class of 2022 (i.e., Bland County, Grayson County, Middlesex County, Page County, Rappahannock County, Falls Church City). 

“Earning a high school diploma is essential for our young people to be ready and successful in college, career, and life,” shares Superintendent Dr. Jeffery Smith. “In 2015, our on-time graduation rate was just under 88%. After a more in depth look at our student data, it clearly indicated we needed to put systems in place to better support our students and their futures. As such, we launched our wall-to-wall academies in each of our four high schools, the Academies of Hampton, and realigned our human resources and other supports. Additionally, we set a student achievement goal that by 2020, 95% of each graduating class will graduate on time with a diploma and credentials that verify they are prepared to succeed in their adult life. Today, we can proudly share that this is the third graduating class to exceed this goal. These outcomes certainly speak to the continued hard work of our students, teachers, staff, and administrators as well as the dedication of our families and community partners.”