Despite post-pandemic expectations, Oregon’s Class of 2024 sees slight increase in high school graduation rate
Oregon Capital Chronicle
By Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle
Students in Oregon’s Class of 2024, who started high school online in the midst of a global pandemic, surpassed expectations and graduated at a rate slightly higher than their peers in 2023 and significantly higher than predicted four years ago.
At the start of the pandemic, fewer than 74% of these students were on track to graduate in four years. But last year, nearly 82% graduated on time, the second-highest in state history, according to data released Thursday by the Oregon Department of Education.
“Students and staff overcame all the obstacles that COVID-19 threw in their path,” Oregon Department of Education Director Charlene Williams said in a news release. “We are seeing results, but we know much more needs to be done so that every child is set up for success, not only to find their path to graduation, but to thrive in their educational experience.”
The class of 2024 included about 38,700 students — about 1,000 more graduates than the class of 2023, which boasted about an 81% graduation rate. The rate has not budged much or only made small gains since the pandemic, and it is still below that of the pre-pandemic class of 2019. In that class, 85% of students graduated on time, marking a high for Oregon.
The 2024 graduation rate ticked up despite state and national assessment tests showing Oregon students are struggling to make progress in key subjects and rebound from achievement losses from the pandemic.
That class also had some of the worst attendance rates in the state’s recent history. About one-third of Oregon students missed at least 16 days out of 160 or more days during the 2023-24 school year and were considered “chronically absent.” Before the pandemic, about 20% of students were considered chronically absent.
More to the picture
Williams said assessment tests and attendance data tell only part of the picture.
Over the last decade, the state has seen a growing number of students across all racial and ethnic categories enroll in Advanced Placement, or AP, courses, with more of those students earning high and college credit-worthy scores on AP exams. There has also been an increase in the number of students enrolled in Career and Technical Education, or CTE, classes. Those students tend to have the highest graduation rate in the state — around 98% of them graduated on time in 2024.
English-language learners, special education students and students in foster care also achieved some of the biggest gains in graduation rates in 2024.
Students for whom English is not a first language graduated at higher rates — nearly 88% — when they completed an English-language learner program before entering high school, the data found.
And students in foster care graduated at a record rate of 51% in 2024, and nearly 69% of special education students graduated, also a state record. Ten years ago, just over 50% of students with disabilities graduated in four years in Oregon, according to Oregon Department of Education data.
Overall, the state’s graduation rate in 2024 was nearly 10 percentage points higher than it was in 2014. Alaska Native and English Language learners graduated in 2024 at rates about 20 percentage points higher than they did 10 years ago, and Black and Latino students graduated at rates about 15 percentage points higher in 2024 than in 2014.
“This news is about resilience and dedication,” Gov. Tina Kotek said in a news release. “I’m proud of the class of 2024 and the educators and parents who didn’t give up on students.”
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Class of 2024 Overcame Historic Obstaclesto Graduate at Second-Highest Rate in Oregon
Graduates began high school during the pandemic when classes were remote, yet 81.8% of the Class of 2024 graduated on time.
(Salem, OR) – The statewide graduation rate for the class of 2024 is 81.8%, according to data released today by the Oregon Department of Education (ODE). The Class of 2024 started high school in distance learning due to the COVID-19 global pandemic and after their first year, only 73.6% were on-track to graduate in four years.
The statewide graduation rate represents about 38,700 public school students in all 36 counties and is the second-highest ever reported in the state.
“I’m proud of the Class of 2024 and the educators and parents who didn’t give up on students. This news is about resilience and dedication,” Governor Kotek said. “Let’s keep building on this progress and provide every Oregon student the best opportunity to thrive.”
“This class of talented, gritty scholars are an inspiring example for other young people. Students and staff overcame all the obstacles that COVID-19 threw in their path,” ODE Director Dr. Charlene Williams said. “Their first year in high school were some of the toughest days of the pandemic. Through their hard work—along with the dedication of educators, support staff, and the commitment of lawmakers and communities to expand learning opportunities—our scholars show us what’s possible when we prioritize their needs. We are seeing results, but we know much more needs to be done so that every child is set up for success, not only to find their path to graduation, but to thrive in their educational experiences.”
Other key findings include:
Students completing two credits in an approved Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program of Study significantly exceeded the statewide average, graduating at a rate of 97.7%, up 2.7 percentage points over the previous year’s mark for CTE students.
Former English Learners – students who have successfully completed English Learner programs prior to entering high school in Oregon – graduated at 87.8%, 6.0 percentage points higher than the statewide average and an all-time high for that student group.
Special Education students also saw the highest graduation rate for that student group at 68.8%.
The graduation rate for students receiving foster care increased 4.1 percentage points to 51.0%, a record high for that student group.
