The Beauregard Parish school system has the second-highest cohort graduation rate — the number of students graduating on time and in four years — in Louisiana, according to a report by the state Department of Education.

The report, released last week, says the school system had a 93.2 percent graduation rate in 2014 — slightly behind DeSoto Parish, which was No. 1 with 94.5 percent. The state’s overall graduation rate was 74.6 percent.

Timothy Cooley, school superintendent, said the 2014 numbers represent a three-point jump from 2013. He said the district is one of only four in the state to have a graduation rate above 90 percent.

“We are very proud of our school system and everyone that is involved in it and the hard work that they put in,” Cooley said. “It takes everyone working together to make this possible — students, parents, school faculty, principals and senior office staff just dedicating themselves to making sure that students are getting to graduate on time.”

Cooley said the district has been at the top of the state’s graduation rate for several years. The district, he said, keeps students on target by using programs such as response to intervention and grade and recovery time.

“All of these things make sure that students have every opportunity possible to stay with their cohort group,” Cooley said. “We are going to continue to push and do everything we can to have our students ready to meet the challenges of graduating.”

(MGNonline)