News

SCCPSS is pleased to announce the graduation schedule for the class of 2026. Dates for each ceremony can be found in the link below. All ceremonies will be held at the EnMarket Arena, 620 Stiles Avenue in Savannah.

Graduation is one of life’s defining and preeminent moments, and we are committed to providing a safe event that embodies the significance and dignity this occasion deserves.

Each ceremony will begin promptly at the published time. All guests must complete a clear bag and security screening before entering the arena. We strongly encourage all guests to arrive early to allow time to complete the screening procedures. The Enmarket Arena will open one hour before the ceremony for the arrival of guests.

Each guest must present a ticket to enter the ceremony. Ticket information will be mailed to each graduate.

Guests and graduates will be required to complete security screenings before entering the ceremony, including walk-through metal detectors. Clear bags will be required.  Each guest is allowed one (1) clear plastic bag and one (1) small clutch. Failure to participate in the screening procedures will result in denial of entry to the area where the ceremony is being held.  

Noise-making devices, flowers, and balloons will not be permitted inside the arena. When these items are present, they diminish the decorum of the graduation ceremony. Security staff will be on-site to enforce this provision. Guests who do not abide by this provision will be removed from the arena.  We ask that guests wear attire that supports the dignity and decorum of this event. Graduates also have a required dress code. 

The parking lot at the Enmarket Arena is available at no charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Information on those lots will be available in the district’s Graduation Hub on SCCPSS.com in the coming weeks.

We look forward to honorable and dignified graduation ceremonies that proudly recognize our young people and appropriately celebrate this crowning achievement for the Class of 2026.

Find the Graduation Schedule HERE.  

A recent Beach High School graduate continues to serve the community by becoming a paramedic.  In the healthcare profession of emergency medical care, A. E. Beach High School graduate, Wilmer Ruiz has achieved a significant milestone by becoming a paramedic in the state of Georgia.

While still enrolled in high school, Wilmer finished the Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) course at Beach in the Spring of 2024.  That is where his love for the healthcare profession began.  He continued his training that summer by enrolling in an EMT program. He graduated as an EMT in August 2024 after successfully completing the certification exam.

To put his training into practice and continue his study, Ruiz worked as an EMT in the community throughout his senior year while still at Beach High School.  His dedication to emergency care did not cease there. In March 2025, Ruiz began paramedic school, and this month, he obtained certification as a paramedic.

By becoming a paramedic in the state of Georgia, he has continued to BARK LOUD as a Beach High Bulldog and let success be his noise!  Ruiz’s accomplishments reflect both his dedication to emergency medical services and his commitment to serving the community.

To see a video about this dedicated student's accomplishments click here.

Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools (SCCPSS) Counseling Department is inviting students and families to the Scholarship Fair 2025 on Saturday, November 15, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Herschel V. Jenkins High School, located at 1800 E. DeRenne Avenue, Savannah, GA 31406.

 “Funding Your Future” will provide valuable resources to help students prepare for college expenses. Attendees can expect:

• Workshops and Application Tips
• Scholarship and Career Guidance
• Opportunities to meet representatives from scholarship organizations

Students are encouraged to register in advance.  For more details, visit sccpss.com or contact douglas.simmons@sccpss.com or janaidavis@sccpss.com.

Don’t miss this chance to explore funding opportunities and take the next step toward your educational goals!

Georgia’s high-school seniors recorded another all-time-high graduation rate – and significant year-over-year improvement – in 2025. The four-year graduation rate for the state of Georgia rose to 87.2% – up from 85.4% in 2024, and an all-time high since the state began using the adjusted cohort calculation first required in 2011 by federal law.

The 2025 graduation rate for Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools is 87.2% also, with 2,229 students graduating out of a class of 2,557.  This represents a .4% increase compared to last year and matches the state’s graduation rate.  Savannah Early College High School and Woodville-Tompkins Technical and Career High School maintained their 100% graduation rate, with a third SCCPSS high school – Savannah Arts Academy – joining the ranks. 

“I am so proud of Georgia’s class of 2025 and the teachers, staff, and families who supported them,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “Seeing this increase in a single year is a strong indicator of the work Georgia’s schools and districts are doing to keep students engaged in their education and prepare them for successful lives after high school. While more work remains to be done, more Georgia students are graduating than ever before – and they’re doing so prepared to pursue futures full of opportunity.”

Dr. Denise Watts, Superintendent of Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, echoed Superintendent Woods’ comments.  “The Class of 2025 represents the very best of SCCPSS—resilient, determined, and prepared for a future full of possibilities. This year’s graduation rate reflects the tireless commitment of our educators, staff, and families to high-quality instruction and student support. Together, we’ve created learning environments that empower students to pursue choice-filled lives and contribute meaningfully to their communities.”

How Georgia calculates its graduation rate

Georgia calculates a four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate as required by federal law. This rate is:

• The number of students who graduate in four years with a regular high school diploma, divided by
• The number of students who form the adjusted cohort for the graduating class.

Adjusted Cohort Rate Definition: From the beginning of ninth grade, students who are entering that grade form a cohort that is subsequently adjusted by adding any students who transfer into the cohort during the next three years and subtracting any students who transfer out.

On September 30, 2025, College Board released the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) results for the graduating class of 2025. The SAT is designed to indicate college readiness and is one of the tests commonly used in the college admissions process.  The SAT consists of two content areas. Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math.  Scores range from 200 to 800 in each content area and combine for a maximum SAT score of 1600.

For the eighth year in a row, Georgia’s public-school students significantly outperformed their counterparts in the nation’s public schools on the SAT. Specifically, Georgia’s class of 2025 recorded a mean score of 1029. While the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System’s mean score of 1,006 fell below that of the state, the district did exceed both the national mean score of 996 and the comparison group’s mean score of 945. The SCCPSS Comparison Group includes Atlanta Public Schools, Bibb County, Clayton County, Douglas County, Henry County, Muscogee County, and Richmond County.

When compared with scores from the 2024 SY, the district’s 2025 SY average score increased by 16 points while both the state and nation showed year over year declines. SCCPSS had a participation rate of 53% in the 2025 Senior Class. Participation in Georgia increased, which sometimes leads to moderate drops in performance – statewide, 55% of Georgia’s class of 2025 took the SAT at some point during high school.

“Even as participation increases, Georgia students continue to outperform their peers across the nation on the SAT – a testament to the hard work of Georgia’s students, teachers, leaders, and families and the work we’ve done to invest in academic recovery and prepare all students for life,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “This reflects our Student Bill of Rights in action, ensuring every student in Georgia has the chance to succeed, no matter their path after graduation.”

Alfred Ely Beach, Esther F. Garrison, Andrea B. Williams…these are just a few examples of the dozens of Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools that are now or have previously been named in honor of a notable local individual. But who are they? What contribution did they make to our community that warranted a school being named in their honor? Massie Heritage Center has now created an online exhibit to answer those questions for all.

The exhibition is titled “In Their Honor: Savannah Schools Named After Notable Individuals.” It is a look at the people whose names grace district schools, past and present. Designed to be a resource for researchers or the simply curious, the online exhibit culls information from a wide variety of sources and includes photos of each individual.

Interested? View the complete exhibit here.