Minnesota graduation rates up in 2022
Marshall, other area schools record grad rates of more than 90%
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MARSHALL -- Last year, Minnesota high school graduation rates returned to levels seen before the start of the COVID pandemic, the Minnesota Department of Education said.
According to 2022 data released Tuesday, 83.6% of Minnesota high school seniors graduated in four years.
"This year is a return to an upward trend," MDE Commissioner Willie Jett said in a media conference call. Jett said wasn't known yet how Minnesota's graduation rates compared to other states, but the MDE would be looking at that data as it became available.
Marshall area schools all had graduation rates higher than the state level in 2022, according to the data. Four-year graduation rates for 2022 ranged from 90% at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton to 100% graduation at Minneota High School. Marshall High School's four-year graduation rate in 2022 was 92.43%. Marshall Public Schools Superintendent Jeremy Williams said the results were exciting.
"We did receive the 2022 graduation rate information this week and are very pleased with the data," Williams said.
Statewide, a total of 58,586 students graduated high school in 2022, Jett said. The 83.6% graduation rate was an increase of 0.2 percentage points from 2021.
The 2022 graduation rate was close to pre-pandemic levels, the MDE reported. Statewide graduation rates were at 83.7% in 2019, and reached a historic high of 83.8% in 2020, before falling.
The data released by the MDE included the overall percentage of students who graduated at individual high schools, as well as graduation rates for students in different racial and other demographics, like being in special education or an English language learner. The data also looked at the percentage of students who graduated from high school in four, five, six or seven years.
The MDE reported that the four-year graduation rate for American Indian students increased 2.5% in 2022, and the graduation rate for Black students increased 3.1%. Graduation rates for students receiving special education services were also higher than pre-pandemic levels.
"Our students, educators and school communities persevered through the challenges of the past few years, and their unwavering commitment to excellence resulted in improved graduation rates. We celebrate this significant milestone and also recognize that there is still much to be done," Jett said in a Tuesday news release. "Working together, we will ensure that every student graduates from high school equipped with the tools and knowledge necessary for a successful future."
Four-year graduation rates for high schools in the Marshall area were at or above 90% in 2022, the data said. RTR had a graduation rate of 90%, Tracy Area High School had a graduation rate of over 91%, MHS had a graduation rate of over 92%, Lakeview High School had a graduation rate of over 94%, and Minneota High School had a 100% graduation rate in 2022.
Williams said the news about MPS's graduation rates was positive to hear. District teams have been working hard to provide a safe learning environment for students through the challenges of recent years, he said.
"Our focus remains on identifying and meeting the individual needs of each learner to make that work happen," he said.
"The recent release of the 2022 graduation rates show that in that cohort of students just over 92% graduated Marshall High School in 4 years. When we look at all students in the district, which would include our students who attend MATEC and the Marshall Learning Center, our 4-year rate is 91.8%," Williams said. "When compared to the state average of 83.6%, we are excited about our results."