2024 Graduation Rates On Par With 2019

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) released the graduation rates for the class of 2024 on Wednesday, May 7. Data for Saint Paul Public Schools is posted on the public-facing dashboard at spps.org/graduation-rates.

We are excited to share that our 2024 four-year graduation rate reflects an increase over 2023 from 68% to 77%, reversing three consecutive years of declines and on par with 2019. In addition, nearly every student group and every school saw an increase. This positive news can be attributed to the hard work of many staff across our schools and district departments, as well as the graduates themselves. 

Note: As you may recall from last year, summer graduates were not included in the 2023 graduation rates from MDE. If they were counted as they typically are, our 2023 graduation rate was 73%, making 2024 a 4 percentage point increase.

Additional Data Points

• Almost all student groups in SPPS increased in the four-year graduation rate from 2023 
• Notable percentage point increases by student group include: 
  • English language learners (+12) 
  • Hispanic students (+12)
  • Black students (+10) 
  • Students receiving special education services (+10) 
  • Students qualifying for free/reduced price meals (+9)
  • Asian students (+8)
  • White students (+7)
• Asian, Black, Free/Reduced, Special Education, Two or More Races, and White students have made gains in 4-year graduation rates compared to 2019.

• 13% of students continued their education past the traditional four years, an increase of two percentage points compared to 2023. These students may graduate in 5, 6 or 7 years.
• The percentage of students dropping out is 6%; lower than 2023 (7%) and 2019 (8%) dropout rates.
• The percentage of students whose enrollment is unknown is 5%; a large decrease of 8 percentage points compared to last year, but slightly higher than 2019 (3%).

What we’re doing to impact graduation

The 2024 graduating class began their 9th grade year in distance learning due to COVID-19. SPPS staff have been working diligently to support and increase student achievement. A few ways we are building on this positive trend include:

• Using fair and equitable grading practices, combined with teacher and student support, have consistently improved passing rates while maintaining rigorous academic standards and a focus on learning.
• Expanding/enhancing 9th grade academic support courses across all SPPS high schools.
• Expanding access to internships, industry-recognized certifications, work-based learning experiences, and partnerships to connect classroom learning with real-world applications.
• Implementing daily Advisory to increase student engagement and build positive relationships with and among students through social emotional learning, college and career readiness, and academic support. 
• Offering a variety of credit recovery options, including after school, online and experiential learning programs for students to stay on track for graduation.