Montana’s High School Graduation Rates Could See Improvement
The back-to-school advertisements have started and when you look at the calendar, summer is already half over. That means the high school graduating class of 2025 will be trading their lazy days of summer for textbooks soon. For some Montana students the path to a diploma isn't always a straight line or an easy one. Not all seniors entering school this fall will be graduating in 2025.
Montana's High School Graduation Rates Are Lower Than National Average
Montana's high school graduation rates are lower than the national average. Even though we are lower than the national average, compared to our neighboring states our rates are higher than other. According to National Center for Education Statistics, the average high school graduation rate nationwide is 87%. Montana's high school graduation rate is 86%.
Montana's Rates are Higher Than our Neighbors
Compared to our neighbors, we have the highest high school graduation rate.
- North Dakota-85%
- South Dakota-82%
The above graduation rates are for the 2021-2022 school year, which was the year after the Covid-19 pandemic. Montana's numbers increased over a decade. The graduation rate in 2011-2012 was 84%, still below the national average.
Will Montana's Graduation Rates Move Above the National Average?
So, while Montana may not be at the national finish line, yet, it's undeniable that the state is making attempts to get there. The question remains: can Montana bridge the graduation gap and reach the national average, or even surpass it, in the years to come? Only time, and the dedication of educators, students, and families, will tell.
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Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz