BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland high school students achieved a four-year cohort graduation rate of 87.6% for the 2023-2024 school year, marking the highest rate since 2017, according to the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). This represents a 1.8 percentage point increase from the previous year.

The increase in graduation rates was particularly significant among Hispanic students and multilingual learners. The MSDE also reported a decrease in the four-year cohort dropout rate compared to the prior year.

“This is great news for Maryland,” said Dr. Carey M. Wright, State Superintendent of Schools. “When we set high standards, deliver strong instruction, and invest in proven supports, our students show that they will exceed expectations. We will continue working to ensure that every Maryland student achieves their highest academic potential.”

Dr. Joshua Michael, State Board of Education President, echoed this sentiment, stating that the positive trends are a result of investments through the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, which focuses on enhancing student support and raising standards. Dr. Joshua Michael, State Board of Education President, expressed confidence in continued improvement in graduation rates in forthcoming years.

Of the 67,349 students in the class of 2024, 58,965 earned their high school diploma within four years. Graduation rates for most student groups remained stable when compared to the previous year.

Detailed information on graduation rates for the state and individual districts is available on the Maryland Report Card website.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

Photo via Pixabay