S.C. High School Workforce Readiness Program Bests National Standards, Receives Top Awards
August 6, 2014
COLUMBIA, SC – Nearly all high school seniors who participated in Jobs for America’s Graduates-SC (JAG-SC) received a diploma this year.
The program posted a 92.2 percent graduation rate, which is more than 2 percent higher than the national standard. The extended graduation rate, which is measured after a one-year follow-up period, was 95.5 percent.
Coordinated by the SC Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW), JAG-SC is a high school dropout prevention program focused on academic success and career readiness skills. Currently in its ninth year, it has served more than 7,000 students.
“JAG-SC has consistently delivered proven results in increasing graduation rates and helping our students begin successful lives after high school,” said DEW Executive Director Cheryl M. Stanton. “The recent outcome data demonstrates that this meaningful program not only prepares our young people for the future, but it also provides a trained workforce to our businesses.”
With the help of a dedicated career specialist at each participating school, JAG-SC students work on skills identified by businesses as essential to successful employment.
JAG-SC graduates of the class of 2013 exceeded all national standards, according to outcomes released at the organization’s national conference last month. This marks the fourth consecutive year the state program has achieved this feat. Almost 92 percent of last year’s JAG-SC graduates attended college, enlisted in the military or accepted full or part-time jobs, a result well above the national organization’s standard of 80 percent.
Also, the state program along with nine individual high schools achieved the prestigious “five of five” award, meaning the met or exceeded all standards during the 2013-2014 school year. The individual schools are:
- Chester High
- Clinton High
- Lake Marion High in Santee
- McCormick High
- Rock Hill High
- South Florence High
- Swansea High
- West Florence High
- Woodmont High in Piedmont
For a list of all the national awards JAG-SC received for the 2013-2014 school year, visit this page.
To learn more about the program visit DEW’s JAG-SC page or jag.org.
