Virginia among top states for high school graduation rates
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Virginia had one of the highest percentages of high schoolers graduating on time in 2022, per a new nationwide analysis.
Why it matters: The impact of COVID-19 on education is still playing out, but the data shows that the state is at least improving from where it was over a decade ago.
How it works: The report from the GRAD Partnership, a group of nine education organizations, is based on Department of Education data and examines the adjusted cohort graduation rate between 2011 and 2022.
- That's the percentage of high school freshmen who graduate within four years, a rate collected since the 2010-11 school year.
By the numbers: Virginia's overall on-time graduation rate was 89.1% in 2022, a 7.1% increase from the roughly 82% rate in 2011 — and 2.5% higher than the nationwide average of 86.6%.
- That rate gives the Commonwealth the 10th highest rate in the U.S.
- The on-time graduation rate was even higher in 2024 (nearly 90%) after a slight dip in 2023 (88.8%), according to Virginia Department of Education data.
The intrigue: The report uses what's called "The Federal Graduation Indicator," which doesn't give leeway for some students with disabilities or English learners who are allowed to take longer than four years to graduate and still be "on time."
- Virginia's on-time graduation rate does, however, which gives school districts higher graduation rates than might be shown with the federal indicator.
- So by federal standards, only Chesterfield (89.3%) and Hanover (93%) had a higher graduation rate than Virginia overall in 2022 of Richmond area schools.
- By Virginia standards, which puts the graduation rate at around 92.2% in 2022 and 92.9% in 2024, only Hanover passes that threshold.
Yes, but: While Richmond Public Schools' rate this year (78.1%) is lower than the overall state rate, it increased nearly six percentage points from 2023, reports The Richmonder — though graduation rates vary among schools.
- For example, Richmond High School for the Arts — formerly George Wythe — had an on-time graduation rate of 61.5% this year.
- John Marshall had a 95% rate.