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High School Graduation Rates by Race 2024
High school graduation rates can be broken down both by state and by race. A few examples are as follows:
- Montana has an average graduation rate of 94 percent. In Montana, white students graduate at a rate of 94 percent, Asian students graduate at a rate of 90 percent, and African-Americans graduate at a rate of 89 percent.
- Wyoming has an average graduation rate of 93 percent. In Wyoming, white students graduate at a rate of 93 percent, Asian students graduate at a rate of 95 percent, and African-Americans graduate at a rate of 92 percent.
- Vermont has an average graduation rate of 94 percent. In Vermont, white students graduate at a rate of 93 percent, Asian students graduate at a rate of 78 percent, and African-Americans graduate at a rate of 88 percent.
- North Dakota has an average graduation rate of 93 percent. In North Dakota, white students graduate at a rate of 93 percent, Asian students graduate at a rate of 80 percent, and African-Americans graduate at a rate of 86 percent.
- New Jersey has an average graduation rate of 90 percent. In New Jersey, white students graduate at a rate of 91 percent, Asian students graduate at a rate of 92 percent, and African-Americans graduate at a rate of 88 percent.
How Are High School Graduation Rates Calculated?
High school graduation rates are calculated as the percentage of students who identify as a specific race completing high school with a high school diploma. It does not necessarily include students who never entered high school, such as those who may have dropped out of school and middle school. If a student begins high school but finishes late, that student is typically still included in the percentage. Keep in mind that there are students who do not identify as white, African-American, or Asian. There are also students who may identify as more than one race.
Why Does High School Graduation Rate Matter?
The high school graduation rate is important because it is very difficult for someone who does not have a high school diploma to get a job of any type. Even though it could be even better for someone to get a Bachelor’s degree as well, people who graduate high school have a lot of other options. For example, students who finish high school may decide to go to trade school or community college. If a student does not have a high school diploma, then his or her options are extremely limited. There are very few jobs that provide someone a living wage if he or she has not finished high school.
Why Graduation Rates Vary By Race
There are a lot of reasons why graduation rates may vary by race, but it is obvious that graduation rates of rays also vary with geography. There are numerous historical and cultural reasons that play a role in the reasons why someone of a certain background might not finish high school.
- These percentages represent those that have achieved education of high school or higher
State | Graduation Rate (All) | Asian | Black | White |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | 94.0% | 90.14% | 87.98% | 94.55% |
| Wyoming | 93.6% | 87.52% | 96.23% | 94.16% |
| Vermont | 93.5% | 80.26% | 87.25% | 93.81% |
| Minnesota | 93.4% | 81.56% | 81.67% | 95.41% |
| New Hampshire | 93.3% | 88.51% | 86.02% | 93.64% |
| Maine | 93.2% | 82.91% | 84.49% | 93.52% |
| Alaska | 93.1% | 87.23% | 93.3% | 95.55% |
| North Dakota | 93.1% | 83.11% | 88.7% | 93.97% |
| Utah | 93.0% | 88.3% | 87.28% | 94.79% |
| Wisconsin | 92.6% | 85.02% | 84.56% | 94% |
| Hawaii | 92.5% | 89.79% | 95.7% | 96.93% |
| Iowa | 92.5% | 80.51% | 83.11% | 93.65% |
| South Dakota | 92.2% | 81.47% | 83.25% | 94.11% |
| Colorado | 92.1% | 85.81% | 90.53% | 93.67% |
| District of Columbia | 91.9% | 95.24% | 87.76% | 98.24% |
| Washington | 91.7% | 88.89% | 90.06% | 93.91% |
| Nebraska | 91.6% | 76.75% | 86.18% | 93.33% |
| Kansas | 91.4% | 84.98% | 88.64% | 92.84% |
| Idaho | 91.3% | 88.77% | 90.37% | 92.69% |
| Michigan | 91.3% | 89.19% | 86.87% | 92.5% |
| Massachusetts | 91.1% | 85.73% | 86.16% | 93.34% |
| Oregon | 91.1% | 87.43% | 88.34% | 92.61% |
| Pennsylvania | 91.0% | 83.64% | 87.32% | 92.41% |
| Connecticut | 90.9% | 90.16% | 87.11% | 93.17% |
| Ohio | 90.8% | 86.94% | 86.4% | 91.75% |
| Delaware | 90.6% | 89.89% | 89.94% | 91.57% |
| Maryland | 90.6% | 89.83% | 90.58% | 92.93% |
| Missouri | 90.6% | 89.24% | 87.44% | 91.29% |
| New Jersey | 90.3% | 92.8% | 88.59% | 92.09% |
| Virginia | 90.3% | 90.28% | 86.93% | 92.14% |
| Illinois | 89.7% | 90.8% | 87.24% | 92.14% |
| Indiana | 89.3% | 82.45% | 86.09% | 90.51% |
| Rhode Island | 89.2% | 88.78% | 84.87% | 90.91% |
| Oklahoma | 88.6% | 82.45% | 90.15% | 89.82% |
| Florida | 88.5% | 87.16% | 83.7% | 90.19% |
| North Carolina | 88.5% | 86.84% | 86.56% | 90.55% |
| South Carolina | 88.3% | 89.57% | 83.38% | 90.84% |
| Tennessee | 88.2% | 86.44% | 86.98% | 88.98% |
| Arizona | 87.9% | 88.17% | 90.31% | 90.27% |
| Georgia | 87.9% | 86.62% | 87.57% | 89.48% |
| West Virginia | 87.6% | 90.23% | 89.06% | 87.62% |
| Arkansas | 87.2% | 85.27% | 84.88% | 88.79% |
| Kentucky | 87.2% | 84.43% | 86.95% | 87.48% |
| New York | 87.2% | 79.6% | 84.37% | 91.71% |
| Alabama | 86.9% | 86.79% | 83.92% | 88.52% |
| Nevada | 86.9% | 90.72% | 89.96% | 89.78% |
| New Mexico | 86.5% | 89.72% | 90.68% | 88.55% |
| Louisiana | 85.9% | 80.12% | 81.15% | 88.72% |
| Mississippi | 85.3% | 83.02% | 80.86% | 88.39% |
| Texas | 84.4% | 87.94% | 90.19% | 85.56% |
| California | 83.9% | 88.04% | 90.18% | 87.28% |
| United States | 88.5% | 87.29% | 86.67% | 90.72% |