This achievement makes me so proud. African American graduation rates have reached 92% in Lake County, marking an all-time high for our community. It’s not just the graduation rate that’s at a historic peak, but also the opportunities for our students to attend college and continue their athletic careers.

Lake County has a rich history with African American schools. One of the first Black schools in the area was established in 1876 by Reverend S.A. Williams. That school was founded in what is now St. Stephen AME Church in Leesburg.

Over the years, more African American schools were established throughout Lake County. Carver Heights opened in 1933, Curtright in Eustis opened in the 1920s, and Mount Dora Middle School was an African American school from 1926 until 1962.

As schools began integrating in the mid-1960s, graduation rates in Florida increased at a slow but steady pace. But in 2007, things began to change. There was a notable increase in graduation rates across the state. In 2007, Florida’s graduation rate was 62%. By 2015, it had risen to 80%, and it peaked at 90.1% in 2022.

Here in Lake County, the graduation rate in 2023 was 92% which is above the Florida average which is around 88% currently. This 92% rate was consistent for both white and Black students. Hispanic and other minority students also averaged near that number. This tells me that there’s an incredible amount of work going on behind the scenes in our schools to support our youth.

We’ve seen the introduction of Cambridge AICE programs across schools and the addition of AP courses over the past few years. We’ve also seen athletes go on to play professionally, and many students now have broader access to colleges and universities. There has been a notable shift in a positive direction for our school system.

While there will always be work to do, I am so proud of our community for putting these kids in a position to succeed.

As a sports writer, I get to talk to a lot of amazing people. One of the things I love most is seeing how members of our community give back after achieving success. Many of them become coaches; some remain players, but for young kids, seeing heroes like Keon Ellis, Tre Mann, Joe Burnett, Brady Singer, and Kerry Carpenter—just to name a few—make it out of Lake County and succeed at the professional level is incredibly important.

And I believe this is only the beginning. What we’re witnessing is just the tip of the iceberg of what can be accomplished when people come together for the common good. At the end of the day, we are all human, and every human deserves an equal chance at success, no matter who they are.

Today, I am humbled to see such outstanding numbers in our county! Keep up the great work, everyone!