Once known for the lowest graduation rate, Macon high school sees dramatic change

A Macon high school, once known for having the lowest graduation rate in the Bibb County School District, is now celebrating a dramatic turnaround — while still working to close persistent gaps in student performance and attendance.

Southwest High School’s four-year cohort graduation rate has climbed from just 39% in 2012 to 92.9% for 2025, surpassing both district and state averages.

Southwest Principal Bernard Young attributes the progress to stable leadership, focused reform and restored campus pride. He said rebuilding trust in the community has also played a key role.

“For years, our biggest problem was turnover in leadership,” said Young, who became principal in 2021 after five years as assistant principal. “People tend not to want to trust or follow if they don’t know you’ll be here for the long haul. Consistent leadership has allowed me to build the right team for our students and really see what the community needs.”

Young implemented a cohort counselor system where counselors follow each class from freshman to senior year to ensure “no one falls through the cracks.” His team also expanded academic opportunities like the Pathway to Promise program, which allows students to earn up to 24 college credits before graduation, he said.

Jasmine Martin, Southwest’s 2021 valedictorian, said the staff helped students see their potential and challenged them to succeed.

“Teachers really wanted the best for us. That was a part of the school culture,” she said. “If they thought we weren’t acting to our full potential, they’d get on to us, especially if they knew you could achieve greater.”

A decade of growth for the Southwest Patriots

Southwest High appeared on Georgia’s chronically failing schools list for several years, with a 2007 report from the Bibb County School District noting that two-thirds of the school’s ninth-grade students either dropped out or failed to graduate on time.

When Young first arrived in 2016, he said negativity about the school was common among students, staff and parents. He said he almost did not apply for the assistant principal job, considering the school’s reputation.

“I’ll be truly honest with you, my first day here, I had the same thoughts, until I started working in the building,” Young said.

To address the culture, Young embraced the philosophy of Ubuntu, meaning “I am because we are,” to emphasize collective effort that advances the school.

Graduation rates rose under former Southwest High principal Tanzy Kilcrease (2013–2015), and have continued to climb under Young’s leadership after 2022. The school expanded tutoring, individualized instruction and partnerships with local nonprofits, Young said.

Senior Jerimah Curry praised Young’s leadership for increasing the graduation rate and fostering a supportive environment for students. He described Southwest High as his second home.

“I feel proud to be a Patriot,” Curry said. “I know that when I graduate in about six months, I will miss those blue, red and white walls because they poured so much into me.”

Curry, who previously struggled in math, said he found support from teachers like Devante Sanders who prevented him from failing a class, the school’s afterschool program that helps struggling students overcome academic challenges.

Leadership and students aren’t the only ones to recognize progress.

Bibb County Board of Education member and former Southwest High teacher Henry Ficklin said, “Any positive move at Southwest is something that lifts our spirits, and we’re glad to see it.”

Gaps that need closing

Despite the progress, Young said the work is not over.

Southwest was identified in 2024 as one of Georgia’s lowest-performing 25% of public schools, and its chronic absenteeism rate was 56.2% last school year — among the highest in the district, according to district officials.

Young said he could not pinpoint specific reasons why students don’t show up to class. Attendance issues are not unique to Southwest—but he said strategies to make students feel seen and celebrated are helping.

While graduation rates have soared, other metrics — like test scores and student college readiness — still lag. The school’s College and Career Ready Performance Index score, a statewide performance index that annually measures how well schools help students achieve prepare of students for college and careers, sits at 59.2, which is considered a failing grade.

But Young said he expects CCRPI gaps to shrink this year, pointing to increased dual enrollment options compared to last year.

Despite ongoing challenges, Young said success should be measured by whether students become productive citizens — not just test scores.

Young said he focused on celebrating student achievements even when test scores and graduation rates remained low in previous years, arguing that recognizing the successes of graduating students was essential rather than dwelling solely on those who struggled.

“When you’re dealing with turnaround schools, the first thing people want to do is attack data,” Young said. “But before test scores go up, kids have to feel like they belong here.”

Curry said counselors emphasize that a failing grade does not define a student, and they even help him pursue his personal aspirations to become an actor.

Moving forward, ‘beating statistics’

As Southwest works to overcome attendance and academic hurdles, Young believes the school’s turnaround shows what consistent leadership and strong relationships can achieve.

His vision: every student graduates with a clear path to college, a career or the military.

“My biggest flex is the fact that a student will leave here and still say how much they enjoyed being at Southwest High School,” Young said. “You only have four years with them, and I don’t want those four years to be miserable. I want to make sure they at least had one oasis where they felt safe, included and seen.”

Young’s goal for the class of 2026 is to top the current graduation rate and ensure 100% of students are accepted into college — “whether they want to go or not,” he said.

Martin, now a labor and delivery nurse after graduating from Georgia College & State University, still holds onto her Southwest pride.

“Our teachers (at Southwest) pushed us a lot to do better, and that was instilled in my mind throughout college,” Martin said. “I feel like there are a lot of labels placed on Southwest, and the town we’re in. But I graduated twice, and it was a big motivation for me because I feel like I beat the statistic.”

Curry echoed Martin’s sentiments, asserting that students are destined for success, especially with Young’s support.

“People always talk about Southwest being full of gangsters and thugs, but the truth is that our school is full of talented students and good kids who might get caught in bad moments,” Curry said. “But we all know, including Principal Young, that the student body will make it in life.”