Indiana graduation rates hit near record in 2023
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Nearly 89% of Indiana high school students graduated in 2023, the Indiana Department of Education said Friday. This year’s number is up from 86.52% in 2022 and is the second-highest graduation rate since the state began collecting data in 2012.
Indiana’s highest graduation rate was 89.1% in 2016, which is only 0.12 percentage points above the class of 2023.
Several individual demographics saw graduate rate increases this year:
- Black students – from 77.52% in 2022 to 82.43% in 2023 (4.91% increase)
- Hispanic students – from 83.86% in 2022 to 86.41% in 2023 (2.55% increase)
- English learners – from 85.60% in 2022 to 87.72% in 2023 (2.12% increase)
- Students in special education – from 76.39% in 2022 to 83.24% in 2023 (6.85%increase)
- Students receiving free and reduced price meals – from 83.74% in 2022 to 88.74% in 2023 (5% increase).
Additionally, the non-waiver graduation rate improved 4.34 percentage points to 84.92% this year.
“As a state, we have worked very hard to reduce our waiver rate and keep our focus on ensuring students graduate with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in life and in their career,” Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner said in a news release. “Looking ahead, we will continue to make improvements to ensure Indiana has a diploma that maintains rigor while also increasing seamless pathways for students as they pursue employment, enrollment or enlistment leading to service.”
The IDOE also released the state’s 2023 federal graduation rates due to differences between federal and state accountability equations and standards. Indiana’s federal graduation rate was 87.52%.
You can connect to statewide-, corporation- and school-level graduation data by clicking here.