HAMILTON - The Hamilton Central School District Class of 2016 has a lot to be proud of. Among a long list of academic and extracurricular successes for the June graduates was a standout statistic – a 100 percent graduation rate.

Every student in last year’s senior class completed all their graduation requirements and earned a high school diploma. The last time Hamilton had a 100 percent graduation rate was in 2007, Superintendent Dr. Anael Alston said.

“We are extremely proud of the Class of 2016,” Dr. Alston said. “Our students are always successful, and we usually have a graduate rate above 90 percent, but this is an exceptional achievement for this class and for our entire district.”

For the last two years, in 2015 and 2014, Hamilton’s graduation rate was 95 percent. Alston credited High School Principal Bill Dowsland and his staff with their commitment to raising that number.

“It doesn’t sound like a lot to go from 95 to 100 percent – but it does take more work and dedication,” Alston said. “Bill and his team created a plan for every one of our students who was at risk of not graduating and made sure everyone stuck with it. That was the key for our success.”