Mississippi’s public school graduation rate rose to 90.8% in the 2024-25 school year, up 1.6 percentage points from the previous year, the Mississippi Department of Education announced Monday. The statewide dropout rate declined to 7%, a decrease of 1.5 points.
Since 2013, the graduation rate has increased by more than 16 points, from 74.5%, and the dropout rate has fallen nearly 7 points from 13.9%, according to the department. The state’s graduation rate now exceeds the national average of 86.6%, based on data from the National Center for Education Statistics for the 2021-22 school year.
Among students with disabilities, the graduation rate was 71.1%, with a dropout rate of 14.6%, representing a 5.6-point increase and a 5.4-point decrease, respectively, from the previous year. The department credited improvements to increased instructional support, more options for meeting graduation requirements, and expanded Career and Technical Education programs.
Dr. Lance Evans, Mississippi’s state superintendent of education, praised educators, students, and parents for the progress. “With continued support from the state Legislature, MDE is committed to providing innovative programs and professional development to sustain these gains,” he said.
Demographically, Asian students had the highest graduation rate at 93.3%, while Hispanic or Latino students had the lowest at 87%. Asian students also had the lowest dropout rate at 2.3%, compared to 12.5% for American Indian or Alaskan Native students. Black students, the largest demographic in Mississippi’s public schools, had an 89% graduation rate and an 8.2% dropout rate, with about 16,121 students in the senior class.
Female students outperformed males in both categories, with a graduation rate of 93.6% and a dropout rate of 5%, compared to 88% and 9.1%, respectively, for males. The data is based on students who first entered ninth grade during the 2021-22 school year and does not include GED earners or students with a certificate of completion.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
