Minnesota Achieves Record 84.2% High School Graduation Rate for 2024

Minnesota's high school graduation rate hit a record 84.2% in 2024, with 58,293 seniors earning diplomas, marking a significant rebound from pandemic-era declines. Gains were seen across nearly every racial and ethnic group, with the most notable improvements among Asian, Latino, Black, and Native American students, as well as English learners, low-income students, and those in special education. Achievement gaps between white students and students of color narrowed considerably, reflecting increased support and outreach efforts by schools statewide. St. Paul and Minneapolis Public Schools both saw notable increases, returning to or approaching pre-pandemic levels, despite previous technical errors impacting reported data. State officials and education experts highlighted graduation rates as a key indicator of system effectiveness, emphasizing the resilience of the Class of 2024, who began high school during the disruptions of COVID-19. While celebrating the progress, education leaders acknowledged ongoing work is needed to further improve outcomes for some student groups.