Six months after receiving its second consecutive “A” grade from the Florida Department of Education, the county School District learned last week that its 96.2-percent high school graduation rate ranked No. 4 in the state.
The district’s graduation rate for the Class of 2024 not only increased from 95.6 percent, but it also was the highest on the Treasure Coast and well above the state’s 89.7-percent rate.
When School Superintendent David Moore was hired in late 2019, the school district’s rate was 88.5 percent, which ranked 20th in the state.
Notably, the district has made significant progress in closing the achievement gaps among minority students. The graduation rate for Black students has risen by 11 percentage points since the 2018-19 school year to 92 percent, while the rate for Hispanic students saw a 14-percent increase to 97 percent.
“Graduating from high school is a key milestone in every student’s educational journey, representing not only academic success but also preparation for meaningful contributions to their future communities,” Moore said.
“We are immensely grateful to our teacher, staff, students and families for their contributions to this achievement,” he added. “As a district, we are committed to continuing this upward trajectory and ensuring our students are equipped to lead and thrive in the communities of tomorrow.”
The only Florida school districts with higher graduation rates this year were those in Lafayette (100 percent), Walton (97.4) and Wakulla (97.1) counties. However, Lafayette had only 80 graduates, while Wakulla had 305 and Walton had 743.
By comparison, 1,229 high school seniors received diplomas in Indian River County.
School Board Vice Chair Peggy Jones, a career educator and former Sebastian River High School principal, praised Moore, his staff, principals and especially teachers working in classrooms from kindergarten through high school.
“I’m so proud of our K-through-12 public school system. Yes, the data is reported for the high schools, but this is a K-through-12 effort … We are now No. 4 and shooting for No. 1.”
Moore was named the 2025 Florida Superintendent of the Year at a joint meeting of the Florida Association of District Schools Superintendents and Florida School Board Association last month in Tampa.
He became the first superintendent from this county to receive the award.
Moore is now one of four finalists for The School Superintendent’s Association National Superintendent of the Year award, which will be presented in March in New Orleans.
Last week, Moore joined the other finalists for a panel discussion at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., where he was asked about schools and technology.
“Transformation in public education begins with a clear understanding of what works and what doesn’t,” Moore told the audience. “To move forward, we have to stop doing what isn’t effective. This means eliminating programs that don’t lead to high-paying, high-demand jobs and focusing resources on areas that truly prepare students for the future.
“As we look at career pathways, we have to think about jobs that don’t even exist yet and ensure our students are prepared for that uncertainty,” he added. “Public education needs to be strategic in designing programs that lead to industry certifications, and we must be willing to change course when something isn’t working.
“This is the bold, intentional work that is necessary for real transformation in our schools.”
