INDIANAPOLIS, IN — The Indiana Department of Education has announced the 2021 state graduation rates, which show that 86.69 percent of students in the Class of ’21 graduated high school.
The number of graduating high school students in Indiana went up this year without a graduation qualifying exam waiver.
The statewide graduation rate is down from 87.69 percent in 2020, and 87.29 percent in 2019.
Each high school in the WRBI listening area had a graduation rate higher than the state average:
- Jac-Cen-Del (77 of 77) and Oldenburg Academy (51 of 51) both graduated 100 percent;
- Decatur County Schools (North and South Decatur – 168 of 172) – 97.67 percent;
- East Central (303 of 314) – 96.50 percent;
- Batesville (163 of 169) – 96.45 percent;
- Milan (86 of 91) – 94.51 percent;
- Greensburg (137 of 148) – 92.57 percent;
- South Ripley (72 of 78) – 92.31 percent;
- Franklin County (163 of 184) – 88.59 percent.
2020 graduation rates reflect the Indiana Board of Education’s waiver of the Graduation Qualifying Exam requirement for the 2020 cohort, which could not be administered due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
IDOE said this year’s graduation rate should be compared to 2019 instead of 2020.
“Across our state, our educators, families, and community leaders are working to be difference-makers in our students’ lives, preparing them not only for graduation but for the rapidly-changing world that awaits,” said Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education.
“Looking ahead into 2022 and beyond, we must continue to work together to ensure our students earn their high school diploma and have access to intentional post-secondary credentials in high school. This mission takes all of us as we strive to make an impact on our students’ lives, now and well into the future,” Jenner added.
This year, nearly 40 percent of Hoosier students graduated with a Core 40 honors diploma (academic, technical, or both) or an International Baccalaureate diploma.
Additionally, more than 78 percent graduated without requiring a waiver from passing the Graduation Qualifying Exam – an increase of nearly two percentage points from 2019.
A spreadsheet with the statewide, corporation, and school-level graduation data can be found on the IDOE website.
