Minnesota public high schools saw their graduation rate tick up one-tenth of a percentage point last year, reaching another all-time high, at 83.8 percent.
The Class of 2020 spent its last three months learning from home after Gov. Tim Walz ordered schools closed because of the coronavirus pandemic. And graduation ceremonies across the state were held virtually or with drive-in celebrations.
“This was a time of great uncertainty, and the perseverance of our students, educators and families demonstrates their commitment to rise to this moment and reach the end of their pre-K through grade 12 journey,” Education Commissioner Heather Mueller said Thursday in a news release.
As schools made the sudden shift to distance learning in spring 2020, the Department of Education urged them to impose student-friendly grading systems.
In St. Paul Public Schools, middle and high school students were given passing grades for all third- and fourth-quarter classes.
The St. Paul district posted a 78.3 percent on-time graduation rate last year, up from 76.3 percent the year before.
Minneapolis Public Schools graduated 74.2 percent, down from 75.3 percent.
Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan graduated 88.8 percent, down from 91.2 percent.
South Washington County graduated 92.3 percent, down from 93.3 percent.
The state again had huge gaps in four-year graduation rates among demographic groups:
- 89 percent among white students, up .3 percentage points
- 89.1 percent among Asians, up 1.5 points
- 70.4 percent among Hispanics, up .5 points
- 69.2 percent among Blacks, down .7 points
- 55.7 percent among American Indians, up 4.9 points
The Department of Education reported encouraging data on dropouts Thursday, signaling that more students keep working toward a diploma, even if it takes more than four years. The dropout rate last year was 3.7 percent, down from 4.4. percent the year before.
“When our school communities rally around students to help them complete high school, we can make a real difference,” Mueller said.