Sandy Springs families got strong numbers Monday, Sept. 28, when state data showed Fulton County Schools graduated 93.4% of its 7,718 seniors in the class of 2026.

North Springs High School and Riverwood International Charter School, the city's two traditional high schools, posted a combined 95.6% graduation rate for the class of 2025, according to a December 2025 Fulton County Schools board presentation. School-level data for the class of 2026 has not been released.

The Georgia Department of Education said the statewide on-time graduation rate reached 88.5%, up from 87.2% the year before, as first reported by Fulton Neighbor. Fulton County, Georgia's fourth-largest district with about 85,000 students, cleared that benchmark by nearly five percentage points.

Superintendent Mike Looney attributed the district's performance to hard work, according to Fulton Neighbor.

In a July statement about expanding the Achieve Atlanta scholarship program, Looney said, "One of our highest priorities is ensuring every Fulton County Schools student graduates with a clear pathway to college, career, or military service."

The 93.4% rate continues a steep climb. Fulton County Schools first crossed 90% in 2023, when Looney called it a district first. The rate rose to 91.9% for the class of 2025, which the district called its fifth consecutive record. The jump to 93.4% represents a gain of 1.5 percentage points in one year.

The district has credited targeted academic supports, expanded advanced coursework, investment in career and technical education pathways, and new data-monitoring tools for the upward trend, according to a 2025 district press release. Students who completed two or more career and technical education courses posted a 99% graduation rate that year.

Across metro Atlanta, the city systems for Atlanta, Decatur and Marietta and the county systems for Cobb and Fulton all exceeded 90%. Decatur led the group at 96.7%. Statewide, 141 of Georgia's 180 city and county school districts hit 90% or higher.

State School Superintendent Richard Woods said the rising numbers reflect students who see value in a diploma. He pointed to expanded diploma options, including school-to-work "pathways" such as the accelerated career diploma.

More than 63% of students enrolled in Sandy Springs public schools are economically disadvantaged, according to the December 2025 board presentation. About 8,774 students were enrolled in Pre-K through 12th grade across the city's Zone 4 schools at that time.

The next Fulton County Schools board work session is Oct. 13 at the North Learning Center. The next full board meeting is Oct. 22 at the South Learning Center.