NEWS RELEASE: Class of 2023 Achieves Second Highest Graduation Rate Ever in Oregon

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Oregon Department of Education - Oregon achieves - together

NEWS RELEASE
January 25, 2024
Media Contact: Marc Siegel

Class of 2023 Achieves Second Highest Graduation Rate Ever in Oregon

While the overall rate held steady, some student groups reached all-time highs for graduation including former English Learners (87.6%) and Migrant students (81.6%).

(Salem, OR) - The statewide graduation rate for the class of 2023 is 81.3 percent, tying the previous class as the second highest graduation rate ever recorded in Oregon, according to data released today by the Oregon Department of Education (ODE).

While the overall rate held steady, some student groups reached all-time highs for graduation including former English Learners (87.6%) and Migrant students (81.6%). 

“These 37,700 graduates overcame historic challenges to earn their diploma. During their journey to graduation the class of 2023 endured the full, multi-year impact of COVID and its aftermath,” said Dr. Charlene Williams, Oregon Department of Education Director. “Each diploma represents an inspiring step forward for a student, their loved ones, and their community. With impressive grit and resourcefulness they worked their way through the jarring and isolating impacts of the pandemic to earn their education. We need to maintain high expectations and provide high levels of support that will lead to academic excellence for all of our students. Each and every child from birth through 5th grade must be set up for success in learning to read and reading to learn and be provided opportunities to find their path to graduation success and their dream career.”

“I am never satisfied when it comes to our kids. We will continue working hard to improve results in the coming school years,” Governor Tina Kotek said. “Still, it’s important that we are seeing some positive results in key areas where the state has been targeting resources, such as career and technical education and supporting English Language Learners. This targeted approach to success is working for our students, so let’s do more of that, and I hope lawmakers support summer learning investment in the 2024 session.”

Student Group

Class of 2022

Class of 2023

Percentage Point Change

All Students

81.3

81.3

0.0

Asian

92.1

92.1

0.0

Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander

74.6

75.9

+1.3

American Indian/ Alaska Native

68.9

68.2

-0.7

Black/ African American

73.7

73.1

-0.6

Hispanic/ Latino

78.7

78.6

-0.1

White

82.5

82.6

+0.1

Multi-Racial

79.7

79.8

+0.1

Female

84.2

83.6

-0.6

Male

78.8

79.4

+0.6

Non-Binary

72.0

71.8

-0.2

Economically Disadvantaged

80.7

80.7

0.0

Not Economically Disadvantaged

83.4

83.6

+0.2

English Learners Anytime in High School

65.3

68.1

+2.8

Former English Learners

86.4

87.6

+1.2

Never English Learners

81.7

81.5

-0.2

Special Education

67.5

68.6

+1.1

Not Special Education

83.7

83.5

-0.2

Talented and Gifted

95.5

96.3

+0.8

Not Talented and Gifted

80.0

79.8

-0.2

Migrant

81.4

81.6

+0.2

Homeless

58.6

60.6

+2.0

In Foster Care

48.4

46.9

-1.5

Military Connected

--

86.7

--

Career and Tech. Ed Participants

89.0

88.8

-0.2

Career and Tech. Ed Concentrators

93.0

95.0

+2.0

Students Recently Arrived

--

63.3

--

Students with Experience in Incarceration or Detention

--

35.8

--

Other key findings include:

  • Students completing two credits in an approved Career and Technical Education (CTE)  Program of Study significantly exceeded the statewide average, graduating at a rate of 95.0 percent.
  • Former English Learners - students who have successfully completed English Learner programs prior to entering high school in Oregon - graduated at 87.6 percent, 6 percentage points higher than the statewide average and an all-time high for that student group.
  • Special Education students also saw the highest graduation rate for that student group at 68.6 percent.
  • The graduation rate for students experiencing houselessness increased 2 percentage points to 60.6 percent which is also a record high for that student group.
  • For the first time, graduation rates are reported for military connected students (86.7%), students with experience in incarceration or detention (35.8%) and students recently arrived (63.3%).

###