Utah's high school graduation rates see one of the highest jumps in the U.S.
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Utah saw some of the nation's biggest gains in high school graduation rates since 2011, per federal data.
Why it matters: The impact of COVID-19 on education is still playing out, but the decade-long picture is a big success.
By the numbers: 88.2% of Utah high schoolers graduated on time in 2022, up from 76% in 2011.
- That's a 12.2% increase; only eight other states saw bigger jumps.
The intrigue: In 2011, Utah's graduation rate was the 13th-lowest in the nation and below the national average of 79%.
- As of 2022, it was tied for 13th-highest and above the national average of 86.6%.
- That's according to a report from the GRAD Partnership, a group of nine education organizations.
Zoom out: Some states saw even more progress: 91.2% of West Virginia high schoolers graduated on time in 2022, up 14.7 percentage points from 2011.
Yes, but: A handful are backsliding: Only 77.3% of Arizona high schoolers graduated on time in 2022, for instance, down 0.6 percentage points from 2011.
- There's evidence of at least a temporary blip around the pandemic: "In 2020, there were 10 states with graduation rates of 90% or higher, but only five in 2022," per the report.
Between the lines: From 2011 to 2022, the nationwide growth rates for Black students (+14.1 percentage points), Hispanic students (+11.8), and Native American students (+6.7) all outpaced that of white students (+5.9).
- There's also been progress for low-income students (+11.4), English learners (+15.1), and students with disabilities (+12.3).
Caveat: Graduation rates are only one measure of educational success and might not account for differing standards or policies among states.
- Case in point: "Many states, districts, and schools waived some high school graduation requirements or eased academic pressures on students during the pandemic," as the report points out.
What we're watching: It's still too early to tell whether remote learning and social distancing will hurt the long-term success of students who spent their pandemic years in elementary school, the report warns.