Stanly County Schools and Gray Stone Day School have something to cheer about as both improved their graduation rates during the last school year.

The school system’s overall four-year cohort graduation rate for 2018-2019 was 92.9 percent, up from 88.7 percent the year prior.

SCS had a higher overall graduation rate than the school systems of Anson, Cabarrus, Davidson, Mecklenburg, Montgomery and Rowan counties.

“I’m just proud of all the hard work our teachers, administration and staffs have devoted to helping students make it through to graduation,” Superintendent Dr. Jeff James said.

For the second consecutive year, Stanly Early College had a graduation rate higher than 95 percent, the highest in the county.

Albemarle High (86.5 percent), North Stanly (93.2 percent) and West Stanly (92.9 percent) all improved their graduation rates. Though South Stanly’s rate slightly dipped (93.8 percent), the school maintains one of the county’s highest rates.

Stanly Academy Learning Center had the only significant decrease, dropping to 68.3 percent from 83.6 percent two years ago.

Gray Stone’s graduation rate for 2018-2019 was greater than 95 percent, up from 93.7 the year prior.

“Our students work very hard to be a graduate of Gray Stone and they find they are very prepared for college work,” Helen Nance, chief administrative officer, said. “I am proud of the commitment that our teachers provide to all students, giving them the desire to be dedicated to their academics as well as supporting the whole student with life skills.”

SCS and Gray Stone also had higher graduation rates than the state average, which was 86.5 percent.