Graphic announcing Dalton Public Schoolsā€™ 2026 graduation rates. The DPS logo appears above large text reading ā€œ2026 Graduation Rates.ā€ Two graduates in red caps and gowns are pictured on either side, surrounded by a red border with black paw prints.

Dalton Public Schools Graduation Rates Show Significant Growth

DPS Communications

September 28, 2026

Dalton, GA ā€“ Dalton Public Schools (DPS) is celebrating significant growth in its 2026 graduation rates, with both Dalton High School and The Dalton Academy improving from the previous year. The districtwide graduation rate also increased substantially, with both high schools and Dalton Public Schools as a whole exceeding Georgia's 2026 graduation rate of 88.5%.

  • Dalton High School achieved a 93.24% graduation rate in 2026, an increase from 91.36% in 2025 and nearly five percentage points above the state rate.

  • The Dalton Academy achieved a 90.21% graduation rate, up from 76.05% in 2025 ā€” an increase of more than 14 percentage points in one year.

  • Districtwide, Dalton Public Schools achieved an 89.65% graduation rate, an increase from 83.46% in 2025 and above the state rate of 88.5%.

Superintendent Dr. Steven Craft said the results reflect the collective commitment of DPS educators and staff to helping every student reach graduation.

ā€œThese graduation rates represent far more than percentages ā€” they represent students who reached an important milestone because people throughout our district believed in them and invested in their success,ā€ said Dr. Craft. ā€œI am especially proud of our teachers, whose hard work, dedication and commitment to students are at the heart of this progress. From the first day a student enters Dalton Public Schools until the day they walk across the graduation stage, our educators are building the foundation for that success. These results belong to our entire DPS team, and I am incredibly proud of what they have accomplished together.ā€

Georgia calculates graduation rates using the federally required four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate. The calculation follows a group of students beginning in ninth grade and adjusts the cohort as students transfer into or out of a school or district. The graduation rate represents the percentage of students in that adjusted cohort who graduate within four years with a regular high school diploma or state-defined alternate diploma.

Dalton Public Schools remains committed to building on this progress and ensuring students have the academic instruction, relationships, resources and opportunities they need to graduate prepared for college, career and life.

For more information about Dalton Public Schools, please visit www.daltonpublicschools.com.

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