Minnesota sets record 84.9% high school graduation rate
The Minnesota Department of Education says the class of 2025 posted the state’s highest‑ever four‑year graduation rate at 84.9%, up from the prior record 84.2% for the class of 2024, with gains across nearly every racial and student group. Asian students graduated at 90.1%, white students at 89.9%, Black students at 76.4%, Hispanic/Latino students at 72.4%, and American Indian students saw one of the biggest jumps, from 62.9% to 67.6%. Graduation rates also rose for students receiving special‑education services (to 68.8%), students eligible for free or reduced‑price meals (to 76%), and students who have ever been in foster care (to 55.6%), while rates slipped for English learners, current high‑school foster‑care youth, and migrant students. Commissioner Willie Jett credits increased engagement and new academic supports for the overall improvement but calls the drops for English learners and foster‑care students in high school a 'worrying reversal' and says MDE is piloting course‑taking data to better track whether graduates are actually prepared for college or careers. For Twin Cities families, the numbers are a mixed bag: metro districts help drive the record highs, but persistent and in some cases widening gaps for the most vulnerable students — especially those in foster care and learning English — show that the headline record masks serious unfinished business.
📌 Key Facts
- Overall four‑year graduation rate for Minnesota’s class of 2025 was 84.9%, up from 84.2% for 2024.
- By race: Asian 90.1%, white 89.9%, Black 76.4%, Hispanic/Latino 72.4%, American Indian 67.6%, two or more races 80.6%.
- Key subgroups: special‑education students 68.8%, free/reduced‑price meal eligible 76%, homeless 54%, ever in foster care 55.6%, but English learners 67.1% (slight dip), migrant 52.1% (down 1.1 points), and foster care in high school 48.7% (down from 50.1%).
📊 Relevant Data
Minnesota has some of the largest achievement gaps in the nation on outcome measures by race and socioeconomic status, with racial and income gaps in standardized test scores and college readiness having increased over time, while gaps in graduation rates have decreased.
Statewide Crisis: Minnesota's Education Achievement Gaps — Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
In Minnesota, the gap between Black and White students is greater than the U.S. average gap on all four tests (reading and math in grades 4 and 8), and the sizes of the Minnesota gaps rank high compared to other states.
K–12 Achievement Gap Is a National Problem — University of Minnesota
Statewide in Minnesota for 2024-2025, 45.2% of all students tested proficient in math, and 49.6% in reading, remaining flat while graduation rates increase, indicating a potential mismatch where more students graduate without proficiency in basic skills.
Student test scores remain flat in Minnesota. See how your school did. — Star Tribune
During the surge of federal immigration agents into the Twin Cities, officials saw attendance plummet at some schools with large numbers of immigrant students, which could affect graduation rates for English learners and migrant students.
Minnesota graduation rates hit record high in 2025 — MPR News
24% of Minnesotans are people of color, a diverse group including those who identify as Asian, American Indian, Black, Hispanic, and two or more races, with the percentage of racial and ethnic diversity in Minnesota's school-age population continuing to increase.
By race & ethnicity — MN Compass
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