The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has announced the statewide high school graduation rates for the 2024-25 academic year, revealing an increase in success for African American students, those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and students with disabilities. While the overall four-year cohort graduation rate saw a slight decrease from the previous year, these specific demographic gains highlight focused efforts in supporting diverse student populations.
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The 2025 four-year cohort graduation rate stands at 86.4 percent, a minor decrease from the 87.6 percent recorded in 2024. However, encouraging trends were observed within specific student groups. The graduation rate for African American students improved to 85.8 percent in 2025, up from 84.4 percent in the prior year. Students identifying as economically disadvantaged also saw an increase, with their graduation rate rising to 83 percent from 81.6 percent. Similarly, students with disabilities experienced positive movement in their graduation outcomes.
Conversely, the data indicates a decline in graduation rates among multilingual learners, a trend that has raised concerns among state education officials. The report details that 72,702 students were part of the 2025 cohort, with 62,842 successfully earning their diplomas within the four-year timeframe. The MSDE also released the five-year cohort graduation rate, which measures students who complete their high school education within five years. For the 2020-2021 ninth-grade cohort, 89.2 percent graduated by the 2024-2025 academic year, marking an increase from 87.4 percent in the preceding year.
Maryland’s graduation rate calculations adhere to federal reporting standards, tracking a cohort of students from their freshman year through their senior year. The four-year cohort rates have consistently remained strong, fluctuating between 85.8 percent in 2023 and 87.6 percent in 2024 since the 2020-2021 school year. Detailed statewide and local statistics, including four-year and five-year cohort graduation rates and the four-year cohort dropout rate, are available on the Maryland Report Card website. These figures provide valuable insights for educators, parents, and policymakers regarding educational progress and areas requiring continued attention and support.
Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Maryland State Department of Education
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