While the national graduation rate rebounded to 87% in 2022, that headline number masks a story of both remarkable progress and persistent gaps, revealing who our education system is still failing.
Key Takeaways
- In 2021-22, the national adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR) for public high school students was 87%, representing 3.4 million graduates from a cohort of 3.9 million students
- The average freshman graduation rate (AFGR) in the US peaked at 84.1% in 2019 before the pandemic, compared to 73.9% in 2006
- During 2020-21, the ACGR dipped to 86% nationally due to COVID-19 disruptions, affecting over 500,000 potential graduates
- California ACGR was 87.2% in 2021-22 for public high schools
- Texas reported 90% four-year graduation rate in 2022
- New York ACGR at 81% in 2021-22 amid urban challenges
- ACGR rose from 79% in 2010-11 to 87% in 2021-22 nationally
- From 2006 to 2019, AFGR increased by 10.2 percentage points to 84.1%
- Pre-pandemic peak ACGR was 87.3% in 2019-20
- Chronic absenteeism linked to 20% lower graduation odds
- Students with 30+ absences graduate at 55% rate vs 90% for regular attenders
- Poverty correlates with 15% lower ACGR nationally
Public high school graduation rates reached 87% nationally in 2022.
Influencing Factors Statistics
- Chronic absenteeism linked to 20% lower graduation odds
- Students with 30+ absences graduate at 55% rate vs 90% for regular attenders
- Poverty correlates with 15% lower ACGR nationally
- English learners 3x more likely to drop out per cohort studies
- Special education students face 20% graduation gap due to IEPs
- Male students 6% less likely to graduate on-time than females
- Suspension history reduces graduation odds by 17%
- Ninth-grade retention doubles dropout risk per longitudinal data
- Access to AP courses boosts graduation by 10-15%
- School counseling ratio over 500:1 linked to 5% lower rates
- Teacher turnover in high-poverty schools cuts graduation by 4%
- CTE programs increase graduation rates by 8% in participating schools
- Mental health support absence raises dropout risk 25%
- Family instability (divorce/mobility) linked to 12% lower ACGR
- Early college credits correlate with 92% graduation rate
- Bullying victimization reduces graduation odds by 10%
- Food insecurity impacts 15% of potential dropouts
- Overcrowded classrooms lower rates by 3-5% per studies
- Parental education level: high school grads' kids 20% more likely to graduate
- Juvenile justice involvement drops graduation to under 50%
Influencing Factors Statistics Interpretation
The statistics starkly illustrate that while a diploma is earned in a classroom, the path to it is perilously shaped by a student's zip code, home life, health, and the systemic supports—or brutal lack thereof—waiting at the schoolhouse door.
National Statistics
- In 2021-22, the national adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR) for public high school students was 87%, representing 3.4 million graduates from a cohort of 3.9 million students
- The average freshman graduation rate (AFGR) in the US peaked at 84.1% in 2019 before the pandemic, compared to 73.9% in 2006
- During 2020-21, the ACGR dipped to 86% nationally due to COVID-19 disruptions, affecting over 500,000 potential graduates
- Public high school graduation rates reached 90% for on-time graduation in select metrics for 2022, excluding alternative schools
- In 2022, approximately 81% of the 50 states met or exceeded the national ACGR average of 87%
- The national four-year graduation rate for traditional public schools was 86.3% in 2021-22
- Over 93% of US public high schools reported at least one graduate in 2022, with total graduates numbering 3.7 million
- National dropout rate for grades 9-12 fell to 5.1% in 2021 from 5.6% pre-pandemic
- In 2023 estimates, national ACGR projected to rebound to 88%
- US high school completion rate for 25-year-olds was 93.3% including GED in 2022
- 87.3% ACGR for public non-charter schools in 2021-22 nationally
- National status dropout rate for 16-24 year olds was 5.3% in 2022
- Event dropout rate in grades 10-12 averaged 3.7% nationally in 2021
- 91% of white students graduated on-time nationally in 2022
- Hispanic students' national ACGR was 83% in 2021-22
- Black students achieved 81% ACGR nationally in recent years
- Asian/Pacific Islander ACGR at 94% highest among races nationally
- American Indian/Alaska Native ACGR lagged at 74% nationally in 2022
- Female students' national ACGR was 90% vs 84% for males in 2021-22
- National ACGR for students with disabilities was 72% in 2022
- English learners' national graduation rate stood at 66% in 2021-22
- Economically disadvantaged students had 78% ACGR nationally
- Homeless students graduated at 68% rate nationally per federal data
- Migrant students' ACGR was 72% in national reports
- Military-connected students achieved 88% graduation rate nationally
- National ACGR for charter schools was 78% in 2022, lower than traditional publics
- Private school high school graduation rates estimated at 97% nationally
- National GED issuance rate for dropouts was 12% of completers in 2022
- 85% of national cohort tracked fully for ACGR calculations in 2022
- National extended graduation rate including 5th year was 91% in 2021
National Statistics Interpretation
Despite a resilient 87% national graduation rate revealing hard-won progress, the stark gaps for marginalized students prove that the mortarboard's tassel is turned far more easily for some than for others.
State Statistics
- California ACGR was 87.2% in 2021-22 for public high schools
- Texas reported 90% four-year graduation rate in 2022
- New York ACGR at 81% in 2021-22 amid urban challenges
- Florida's high school graduation rate reached 91% in 2022
- Illinois ACGR was 88% for class of 2022
- Pennsylvania graduation rate at 89.1% in 2021-22
- Ohio reported 88.5% ACGR in 2022
- Michigan's four-year rate was 82% in 2021-22
- Georgia ACGR climbed to 85.5% for 2022 cohort
- North Carolina hit 87.5% graduation rate in 2022
- Virginia's ACGR was 92.5% highest in South in 2022
- Massachusetts led nation with 90.5% ACGR in 2021-22
- New Jersey ACGR at 91% in 2022
- Indiana reported 89% graduation rate for 2022
- Washington state ACGR 88.5% in 2021-22
- Colorado's rate was 82.5% amid rural disparities
- Nevada lagged at 81% ACGR in 2022
- Oregon improved to 80% graduation rate in 2021-22
- Arizona ACGR at 79% for class of 2022
- New Mexico reported 75% four-year rate in 2022
- In 2021-22, Iowa ACGR reached 93%, top 5 nationally
- Kentucky improved to 92% graduation rate in 2022
- Tennessee ACGR at 91.5% for class of 2022
- Alabama reported 89% rate in 2021-22
- Oklahoma ACGR 82% amid Native populations
- Utah hit 88% graduation rate in 2022
- Wisconsin 90.5% ACGR in 2021-22
- Minnesota 84% rate with urban-rural gaps
- Connecticut 89% ACGR in 2022
- Maryland 87.5% graduation rate class of 2022
State Statistics Interpretation
America's high school graduation map resembles a patchwork quilt stitched with both pride and disparity, where a student's diploma too often depends more on their zip code than their potential.
Trend Statistics
- ACGR rose from 79% in 2010-11 to 87% in 2021-22 nationally
- From 2006 to 2019, AFGR increased by 10.2 percentage points to 84.1%
- Pre-pandemic peak ACGR was 87.3% in 2019-20
- Dropout rates declined from 6.6% in 2006 to 5.1% in 2021
- Hispanic ACGR improved from 71% in 2011 to 83% in 2022
- Black students' rate rose from 67% to 81% over decade
- Students with disabilities ACGR up 12 points to 72% since 2012
- English learners' rates increased modestly from 60% to 66% 2010-2022
- Male-female gap narrowed from 8% to 6% in ACGR 2011-2022
- Rural graduation rates improved 5% faster than urban since 2010
- Charter school ACGR grew from 67% to 78% 2010-2022
- GED completers declined 40% from 2014 to 2022 peak
- Pandemic caused 1-2% national dip in ACGR 2020-21
- Post-2000 No Child Left Behind era saw 15% ACGR gain
- State variations in ACGR narrowed from 20% to 15% spread 2010-2022
- Low-income ACGR up from 71% to 78% since 2011
- On-time graduation now 90% including 5-year completers nationally
- White ACGR stable at 90-93% over past decade
- Asian rates consistently above 93% since 2010
- Native American rates improved slowest at 4% gain 2010-2022
Trend Statistics Interpretation
While America's high school graduation story over the past decade is largely a tale of hard-won, inclusive progress—narrowing gaps, lifting historically underserved groups, and stubbornly chasing equity—it also reveals we are a nation still diligently grading our own homework, with the true test being whether this momentum can outlast a pandemic and reach every last student.
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