The four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR) is the most important single indicator of high school system effectiveness. It measures the percentage of ninth graders who graduate within four years — and at the county level, it reveals which communities are successfully guiding students to completion.
The national average graduation rate is 87.5%. We identified the 25 counties that significantly exceed this benchmark. The average across these top performers is 98.0%.
The 25 Counties with the Highest Graduation Rates
Ranked by graduation rate from highest to lowest.
| Rank | County | State | Graduation Rate | School Score | Per-Pupil Spending |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rockcastle County | Kentucky | 99.0% | 75.3 | $7,470 |
| 2 | Jefferson Davis Parish | Louisiana | 99.0% | 68.1 | $6,931 |
| 3 | Vermilion Parish | Louisiana | 99.0% | 65.5 | $6,737 |
| 4 | Morgan County | Tennessee | 99.0% | 60.5 | $6,304 |
| 5 | Taylor County | Kentucky | 98.5% | 70.3 | $7,103 |
| 6 | Moore County | Texas | 98.5% | 66.9 | $6,854 |
| 7 | Rockwall County | Texas | 98.5% | 52.5 | $5,529 |
| 8 | Oconee County | Georgia | 98.0% | 75.3 | $7,479 |
| 9 | Carter County | Kentucky | 98.0% | 64.7 | $6,692 |
| 10 | Allen Parish | Louisiana | 98.0% | 73.4 | $7,337 |
| 11 | Henry County | Tennessee | 98.0% | 59.5 | $6,238 |
| 12 | Harrison County | West Virginia | 98.0% | 83.8 | $8,258 |
| 13 | Ohio County | West Virginia | 98.0% | 86.1 | $8,576 |
| 14 | Putnam County | West Virginia | 98.0% | 73.3 | $7,332 |
| 15 | Pulaski County | Kentucky | 97.8% | 66.1 | $6,808 |
| 16 | Titus County | Texas | 97.8% | 65.7 | $6,773 |
| 17 | Chambers County | Texas | 97.6% | 78.5 | $7,747 |
| 18 | Kendall County | Texas | 97.6% | 54.5 | $5,784 |
| 19 | Ozaukee County | Wisconsin | 97.6% | 78.4 | $7,736 |
| 20 | Boone County | Indiana | 97.5% | 51.1 | $5,311 |
| 21 | Johnson County | Kentucky | 97.5% | 80.6 | $7,940 |
| 22 | Lampasas County | Texas | 97.5% | 62.2 | $6,468 |
| 23 | Dallas County | Iowa | 97.3% | 67.6 | $6,920 |
| 24 | Medina County | Texas | 97.3% | 58.9 | $6,206 |
| 25 | Cleburne County | Alabama | 97.0% | 59.2 | $6,316 |
Why Graduation Rate Matters
A high school diploma is worth approximately $10,000 per year in additional earnings compared to no diploma. Over a lifetime, that difference compounds to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Counties with graduation rates above 95% are not just helping students complete high school — they are fundamentally altering the economic trajectory of their communities.
However, graduation rate alone does not tell the whole story. Some counties achieve high graduation rates by lowering standards or pushing struggling students through. The most reliable signal comes from counties that combine high graduation rates with high per-pupil spending and strong educational attainment — indicating rigor alongside completion.
Methodology
Graduation rate data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data, using the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR). The national average of 87.5% is based on the most recent available NCES release. Counties with missing or suppressed data were excluded.
Data sources: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). All figures are estimates and may differ from other published analyses due to methodology differences.