State of the Georgia Girl Report

Graduation Rate Most students in the Class of 2025 began high school during the academic year most heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the course of the last decade, students in Georgia have meaningfully improved their high school graduation rate , with girls graduating at a higher rate than boys in every year. The Class of 2025 achieved a milestone, with 90% of Georgia girls graduating within four years, compared to 85% of boys. Girls in Georgia have improved the 4-year graduation rate by nearly 7 points over the last decade, finishing the Class of 2025 at 90%. Georgia Department of Education, Four-Year Cohort Graduation Rate, 2014-2015 and 2024-2025.

Four-Year Graduation Rate – 2015 vs 2025

90%

85%

83%

75%

Class of 2015

Class of 2025

Female

Male

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The differences in graduation rates between girls and boys in Georgia are consistent with national trends. The Brookings Institution’s analysis of the substantial gender gap in high school graduation rates – consistently 6 percentage points nationally – finds that high school girls put greater effort into school because of differential social costs faced by boys and girls (Reeves & Kalkat, 2023). Boys report negative social outcomes for trying hard and performing well in school, while girls report positive social outcomes for working harder, putting more effort into homework, and placing more personal value on academic achievement (Workman & Heyder, 2020). Differences in graduation rates, in other words, reflect differences in the social expectations placed on girls and boys.

- Georgia Girl Scout, Daisy (Kindergarten - 1st grade), 2025

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