Gwinnett seniors prepare for graduation

     Graduation is right around the corner for 14,059 Gwinnett seniors. It is the culmination of 13 years of hard work during their K-12 academic careers, including two years affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

     “Graduation is a milestone moment of joy, celebration, and reflection as we commemorate the culmination of our students’ remarkable thirteen-year journey through public education,” says Dr. Calvin J. Watts, superintendent of Gwinnett County Public Schools. “As our graduates step into adulthood and embark on diverse paths—whether it’s furthering their education, starting their careers, joining the military, or exploring other avenues—I urge them all to continue to be bold and confident, knowing they are not just GCPS graduates but all represent unique voices and perspectives, and possess the talents, skills, and knowledge that will shape our society and our future. The future eagerly anticipates their contributions, innovation, and passion. Congratulations, GCPS Class of 2024!”

The senior report for the Class of 2024 shows that:

• After graduation, nearly 76% of the students report having plans to continue their education by attending college or postsecondary schools. Most graduates, more than 86% plan to attend college in Georgia.
• As of April 2024, these seniors have been offered more than $242.2 million in academic, athletic, and military scholarships.

• The majority of the scholarship amount, nearly $141 million, was earned for academic achievement. Gwinnett students also earned more than $98.2 million in athletic scholarships and more than $3.0 million in scholarships tied to service academy appointments. These monetary awards do not include HOPE awards (typically, about a third of graduates), Gates, Posse, or QuestBridge scholarship programs.

• The Class of 2024 also includes 4,489 Honor Graduates, students who are graduating with a grade percent average of 90 or better.
• Almost half of our seniors—7,288 —experienced the challenge and rigor of college-level Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses during high school, with more than half (3,648) of those students earning a 3 or better (on a 5-point scale) on optional AP exams to earn college credit or advanced placement in college classes.
• Another group getting a head start on college is the 2,033 GCPS graduates who participated in the state’s dual-enrollment program, earning both high school and college credit.
• More than 1,968 students will enter the workforce after high school, many armed with credentials and certificates earned through our career and technical education programs and sought after by local employers. Students graduating from the district’s Academy high schools—Berkmar, Central Gwinnett, Discovery, Lanier, Meadowcreek, Shiloh, and South Gwinnett—complete high school with valuable exposure to college majors of interest and experience in potential careers.
• Brookwood High School graduates the largest class this year, 920, closely followed by Peachtree Ridge High School, 824, and Grayson High School, 793.
• 31 high-achieving Gwinnett seniors earned a full scholarship through the QuestBridge National College Match program. Of the 17 Gwinnett schools with QuestBridge scholarship recipients, the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology had the most with five. College Match Scholarship recipients are admitted early to QuestBridge college partners with guaranteed, full four-year scholarships provided by QuestBridge’s 48 college partners, including top liberal arts colleges and exceptional research universities.
• Seven of the nation’s 300 Gates Scholarship recipients for 2024 are GCPS students. Archer High School, Central Gwinnett High School, Discovery High School, Grayson High School, Gwinnett Online Campus, Meadowcreek High School, and Mountain View High School each produced one recipient. Funded by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, this prestigious scholarship program provides an all-expenses-paid scholarship to high-potential, low-income minority students. It also supports Scholars by engaging with them and their institutions to ensure they have access to the resources and services they need, from their first to last day of classes through graduation and the transition to their chosen careers.
• Nine Gwinnett graduating seniors earned full rides as Posse Scholars. Founded in 1989, the Posse Foundation identifies public high school students with extraordinary academic and leadership potential who may be overlooked by traditional college selection processes. Posse allows these students to pursue personal and academic excellence by placing them in supportive, multicultural teams—Posses— of 10 students. Partner colleges and universities award four-year, full-tuition leadership scholarships to Posse Scholars.
• Gwinnett grads continue to answer the call to military service. Eight GCPS seniors accepted appointments to one of the nation’s military service academies. A total of 408 seniors will serve their country through military service after graduation, including cadets who honed their leadership skills in Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) units available at 14 GCPS high schools. Those earning academy appointments include:

Gwinnett County Public Schools also salutes the highest-ranked students in each school based on their GPA, those earning the title of valedictorian or salutatorian. They are:

The graduation ceremonies for Gwinnett’s Class of 2024 will take place as follows:

Families and friends can livestream the graduation ceremonies by visiting the Gas South District’s YouTube page.