The Newton County School System continues to surpass Georgia’s average graduation rate, with 84.2 percent of county seniors graduating in 2010, compared to 80.8 percent of seniors statewide, according to information released on Tuesday. Newton County has also continued to post yearly increases in its graduation rate for all students.

According to the 2010 Adequate Yearly Progress Report, the Newton County graduation rate for all students increased by 1.2 percent in 2010, from 83.2 percent in 2009 to 84.2 percent in 2010. The district’s graduation rate in 2008 was 80.1 percent.

Newton County posted gains in five of the seven subgroups with at least 40 students: All students, white students, multiracial students, students with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged students. Two subgroups, black students and Hispanic students, posted decreases in their graduation rate in 2010, a 1.1 percent drop for black students to 80.7 percent, and a 5.2 percent decline for Hispanic students, to 83.3 percent.

"Naturally, we’re pleased to know that our graduation rates are higher than those of the state as we keep an eye on our two subgroups that declined in their rates," said School Superintendent Gary Mathews in a release. "Moreover, our most immediate goal is to catch up with and surpass the state in other important areas of student achievement involving Georgia assessments, ACT, SAT, and the like."