For the third consecutive year, Bibb County’s high school graduation rate has surpassed the state average, according to data released by the Georgia Department of Education on September 29, 2025. The Class of 2025 achieved a graduation rate of 88.97%, marking the district’s highest rate in the past ten years.
Three out of seven high schools in Bibb County recorded graduation rates above 90%. Central High School led with a rate of 96.51%, followed by Southwest High School at 92.90% and Rutland High School at 90.43%. Southwest High School’s increase is notable; its graduation rate was just 39.10% in 2012.
Superintendent Dr. Dan A. Sims commented on the district’s progress: “We continue to see progress in our graduation rate, and this is due in large part to the collective hard work throughout our district,” he said. “This graduation rate reflects the work of the entire Pre-K – 12 spectrum. We are especially grateful for what happens at the high school level, which includes opportunities for students to learn, recover, and gain credits toward graduation.”
Over the past decade, Bibb County’s overall graduation rate has risen by about 37 percentage points from an initial rate of 52.3% in 2012, when Georgia began using an adjusted cohort calculation as required by federal law. Southwest High School and Northeast High School both showed significant improvement from last year with an increase of eight percentage points each. Four schools—Central, Howard, Southwest, and Westside—achieved their highest recorded rates for the Class of 2025.
Southwest High Principal A. Bernard Young attributed his school’s improvement to targeted support systems: “At Southwest High School and Law Academy, our rise in graduation rate reflects our belief that when students are seen, supported, celebrated, and empowered, they succeed,” he said. “Rooted in the spirit of Ubuntu, we’ve invested in structures that build deep relationships and responsive learning environments. Every student is connected to a dedicated cohort counselor who supports them from freshman year through graduation, and our Ubuntu Mentoring Model ensures they are surrounded by a village of advocates. By personalizing learning opportunities and designing environments tailored to students’ academic and social-emotional needs, we are living our vision and demonstrating our commitment to The PUSH.”
