BISMARCK, ND (KFYR) – Some students are back in the classroom and others are enjoying the last moments of summer vacation.
The National Center for Education Statistics says graduation rates have started to rise again after the pandemic interrupted steady growth. The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction says an average of 90 percent of students graduate. That number includes all students who complete high school or GED requirements by age 22.
North Dakota’s graduation rate is above the national average. According to data from ND Insights, the graduation rate among Native Americans has also increased.
State Schools Superintendent Kirsten Baesler says the success is due to districts hiring attendance coordinators, the state pushing initiatives to encourage decision-making and greater family involvement.
She says there is still a lot of work to be done because the goal is a 100 percent graduation rate.
“We just finished our Choice Ready graduation workshops last week. We help local school districts take a close look at what challenges students in their districts are having in graduating. We help them improve their data literacy skills and then of course provide those school districts with appropriate support and even scholarship opportunities,” Baesler said.
In their view, chronic absenteeism from school is one of the main reasons why students do not graduate.
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