Figures released by the Minnesota Department of Education last week show that the four-year graduation rate remained stable last year, with more than 60,000 Minnesota students earning a high school diploma as part of the class of 2023.
In total 83.3% of Minnesota students graduated in four years last year, with 58,293 students earning their diploma on time. An additional 3,874 students from earlier classes were able to graduate five, six or seven years after beginning High School.
The overall graduation rate is down slightly from 2022, when 83.6% of students graduated on time. MDE Commissioner Willie Jett attributed that dip to a 0.4% increase in the “unknown” rate, which covers students whose educational journeys districts lost track of.
Notably, four year graduation rates among Asian and Black students fell by 1.9% and 1.4% respectively, while graduation rates among English Learner students dropped by 1.6%. However, graduation rates among multiracial students increased by 1.1%.
Most local school districts have posted graduation rates higher than the state average. However, local graduation rate data showed much more variation than the relatively stable state numbers, with smaller, more rural districts showing particular variation.
Tri City United
Traditionally positioned in the mid-90 percent range, Tri-City United has seen notable four-year graduation rate declines since the pandemic. That continued into 2023, with just 105 students securing their diploma, the smallest class in recent years.
A sprawling rural district, which includes the towns of Le Center, Lonsdale and Montgomery, Tri-City United has now seen its graduation rates decline four of the last five years, with the overall rate dropping from 93.8% in 2019 to 82.7% in 2023.
Of the 22 students who did not secure their diploma in four years, just eight have been confirmed to have dropped out of school. Five are continuing their education, and quite notably, nine are considered “unknown,” meaning their educational status has not been entered in the state system.
Le Sueur-Henderson
After a rough 2021, Le Sueur-Henderson was able to largely recover its traditional graduation rate of around 90% last year. 2023 saw a slight bump in the graduation rate, with 91.8% (or 78 out of 85) students graduating within four years.
Superintendent Jim Wagner said that keeping the four-year graduation rate above 90% is a key strategic plan goal, which requires significant, careful investments in programming targeting in particular the most at-risk students.
“It’s not necessarily an overnight fix, it takes some time putting things into place,” Wagner said. “You’re always monitoring it to make sure you’re doing everything possible.”
In order to better serve students with particular needs, Wagner said the District has made major investments into its small ALC school. Thanks to that, all but one ALC student was able to graduate on time last year.
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