ST. LUCIE COUNTY — Graduation rates continue to climb in St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) with a reported 75.5 percent rate for the 2014-2015 academic year. According to the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE), SLPS realized a 2.3 percent increase from last year’s rate of 73.2 percent and an increase over the last six years of more than 10 percent.
Most impressive were the increases at Lincoln Park Academy (LPA) and St. Lucie West Centennial High School (SLWCHS) of 6 percent and 5.7 percent respectively. With LPA boasting a rate of 98.6 percent and SLWCHS touting 82.3 percent, both schools have catapulted well above the state’s average graduation rate of 77.8 percent. Fort Pierce Central High School (80.1 percent) and Treasure Coast High School (82.7 percent) are also both above the state average.
While Superintendent E. Wayne Gent commended both schools for their dramatic increases, he is adamant that graduation rates across the District must increase significantly. “Our students and our community deserve the delivery of a world class education system.” Upon assuming the role of superintendent this year, Gent proclaimed that increasing graduation rates was one of his biggest priorities. “St. Lucie Public Schools has made positive strides over the past years. I see this as an area where we must experience significant growth.” With systems in place to support accountability and monitoring of student progress, Gent is confident that greater and consistent growth will be experienced by all area high schools in the coming year.
The FLDOE has posted that Florida’s graduation rate is at a 12-year high. The data shows that the statewide graduation rate climbed to 77.8 percent, an increase of more than 18 percentage points since 2003-04 and 1.7 percentage points over last year.
| School | 2013-2014
Grad Rate |
2014-2015
Grad Rate |
| Fort Pierce Central High School | 83.5 percent | 80.1 percent |
| Fort Pierce Westwood High School | 67.1 percent | 63.8 percent |
| Lincoln Park Academy | 92.6 percent | 98.6 percent |
| Mosaic Digital Academy | 75 percent | 69.6 percent |
| Port St. Lucie High School | 74.0 percent | 70.7 percent |
| St. Lucie West Centennial High School | 76.6 percent | 82.3 percent |
| Treasure Coast High School | 80.1 percent | 82.7 percent |
About St. Lucie Public Schools
The mission of St. Lucie Public Schools is to ensure all students graduate from safe and caring schools equipped with the knowledge, skills and desire to succeed. For more information visit, www.stlucieschools.org or contact Kerry Padrick at kerry.padrick@stlucieschools.org.
###
