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83.6 Percent of Minnesota's Class of 2022 Graduated in Four Years

Statewide graduation rates rise 0.2 percentage points from 2021, with largest gains among Black, American Indian, and two or more race student groups

MINNEAPOLIS – Four-year graduation rates for Minnesota seniors are rising once more, with Black, American Indian, and students identifying as two or more races leading the gains.

Today, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) released the class of 2022 graduation rate data. The graduation rate for the class of 2022 was 83.6% (58,586 students), which represents a 0.2 percentage point increase in students from 2021 going on to career or college success. Additionally, 3,840 students from earlier classes also earned their diplomas in 2022, graduating five, six or seven years after beginning high school.

The four-year graduation rate for American Indian students saw an increase of 2.5 percent from 58.6 in 2021 to 61.1 in 2022; 3.1 percent for Black students to 73.5 percent; and 2.9 percent for students identifying as two or more races to 79.2 percent.

Students who receive special education services also made gains this year, with four-year graduation rates now 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,” said MDE Commissioner Willie Jett. “Working together, we will ensure that every student graduates from high school equipped with the tools and knowledge necessary for a successful future.”

Minnesota’s overall four-year graduation rate has returned to near the pre-pandemic level of 83.7 percent in 2019, after falling in 2021 from the historic high of 83.8 percent in 2020.

The 2021-22 school year was the second full school year impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Students graduating in 2022 were in 10th grade when the pandemic started and their 11th grade year was their most heavily impacted year as schools switched to new ways of learning.

This year’s gains underscore the importance of ensuring Minnesota public schools have the funding and resources necessary to support and engage all students.   

Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan’s One Minnesota Budget aims to make Minnesota schools the best in the nation by indexing education funding to inflation and reducing cross subsidies for special education and English learners. The budget also invests in targeted efforts and programs that have shown to increase graduation rates, such as literacy achievement, full-service Community Schools and the Minnesota Multi-Tiered System of Supports. The budget expands funding to increase student engagement and participation in rigorous coursework to give students the opportunity to earn college credits and workforce certifications through Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO), Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) programs and Career and Technical Education.

“The One Minnesota Budget proposal increases access and opportunities for all Minnesota students regardless of race or zip code,” Jett said. “The Governor's proposed investments will give schools the opportunity to meet the academic, social-emotional and mental health needs of each and every child from their start in education to graduation.”

The graduation report uses the Minnesota definition for all racial student groups. The state definition allows students to be reported as American Indian even if they also belong to other racial and ethnic groups. Under the federal definition of American Indian or Alaska Native, these students would fall under “Hispanic/Latino” or “two or more races” and would not be counted as American Indian or Alaska Native in reporting.

Student Group Data: Four-year Graduation Rate Trends

More About the Data

Find graduation data on the Minnesota Report Card, presented in an easy-to-read, mobile-friendly layout that includes charts and graphs illustrating trends and results for all student groups.

View the complete statewide, district, school and county graduation rates in an Excel spreadsheet by visiting our Data Reports and Analytics' Student webpage. In the Category field, select Graduation Rate to access graduation indicator files for each year. In the Year, Subcategory and Level fields, select the desired data, if needed. Click List files to view the spreadsheet.

View data on enrollment in developmental education in Minnesota colleges and universities on the Minnesota Statewide Longitudinal Education Data System (SLEDS).

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