OSPI NEWS RELEASE: Graduation Rates Rise for the Class of 2020

Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction sent this bulletin at 12/17/2020 10:29 AM PST

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Graduation Rates Rise for the Class of 2020

OLYMPIA–December 17, 2020—During one of the most tumultuous, unpredictable times in modern American history, Washington’s Class of 2020 found the resolve to finish their studies and graduate, according to new data from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).

The 4-year graduation rate reached 82.9%, an all-time high and two-percentage point increase over 2019. This rate reflects the percentage of students who started the ninth grade at the same time and graduated four years later.

Graduation rates for 2020 are also reported for students who earned their diplomas within 5, 6, or 7 years – and each of those rates increased over previous years.

“The Class of 2020 completed their senior year in a manner unlike all of the graduating classes before them,” said Superintendent Chris Reykdal. “I’m proud of the way our educators, school staff, and families came together to support our seniors in reaching the finish line despite the challenges they faced.”

Every student group saw an increase in their 4-year graduation rate compared to 2019. Native American and English learners saw the largest gains, with their graduation rates rising by 8.1 and 6.0 percentage points, respectively.

“I’m pleased to see that gaps are closing, and I believe it’s important to celebrate that progress,” Reykdal continued. “However, the work can’t slow down. We will continue our focus on closing gaps and ensuring all of our students have the supports they need for graduation and beyond.”

Washington's Graduation Rate by Race and Ethnicity, 2016-2020

To help students reach graduation in 2020 despite the challenges caused by the pandemic, the Washington State Board of Education (SBE) made emergency credit waivers available for students who were demonstrably on track towards graduation when school buildings were closed due to COVID-19.

The Class of 2020 were also the first to have a “graduation pathway” requirement, where students demonstrate their readiness for a meaningful next step after high school. There was some flexibility in that requirement for Class of 2020 students as well, as they could use the Expedited Assessment Appeal, which allows students to waive assessment graduation requirements in ELA and/or mathematics by demonstrating that they’ve attained the skills to meet high school standards and achieve their college and career goals.

OSPI and SBE are currently analyzing the use of the credit waivers and expedited assessment appeals, and data are expected to be available in January 2021.

Graduation rates can be viewed for the state, by school district, or by school on the state Report Card.

ALL STUDENTS PREPARED FOR POST-SECONDARY PATHWAYS, CAREERS, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

Led by State Superintendent Chris Reykdal, OSPI oversees K-12 public education in Washington state. Our mission is to provide funding, resources, tools, data and technical assistance that enable educators to ensure students succeed in our public schools, are prepared to access post-secondary training and education, and are equipped to thrive in their careers and lives.

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