Mississippi graduation rate rises to 90.8%, dropout rate falls to 7%, state says

The Mississippi Department of Education said Feb. 19 that the state’s 2024-25 high school graduation rate rose to 90.8% and the dropout rate fell to 7% for students who were freshmen in 2021-22.

The department said the figures are an improvement from the previous year, when the graduation rate was 89.2% and the dropout rate was 8.5%. The release noted the dropout rate has steadily decreased since 2023 and that the graduation rate has trended upward for years, aside from a slight decline of less than one percentage point last year.

The department reported lower outcomes for students with disabilities, with a 71.1% graduation rate and a 14.6% dropout rate, and said the graduation rate for that group remains higher than in 2025. The figures do not include students who earned a GED or a certificate of completion, the department said.

The Mississippi Department of Education credited targeted interventions for the gains, including more options for meeting graduation requirements and an emphasis on career and technical education programs, according to a news release. “These results reflect the hard work of teachers, administrators, parents, and, of course, students,” Lance Evans, state superintendent of education, said in the statement. He added that with continued legislative funding, the department is committed to supporting students and educators to produce continued progress.

The department said the Mississippi School of the Arts and Union Public School District graduated 100% of their students in 2024-25. Other districts cited as having the state’s highest graduation rates included the Mississippi School for Math and Science, Benton County School District and Alcorn School District.

Source: Original Article