WA graduation rates are on the rise
By Terry Murry on Monday, February 27th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
OLYMPIA – Washington’s four-year high school graduation rates are on the rise statewide, according to the governor’s Results Washington office, which hosted a public performance review last week. The review discussed recent efforts to improve graduation rates and included stories from students who overcame barriers in earning their diploma.
The graduation rate of Washington students has climbed steadily by 6.3 percent over the last decade. In the most recent school year, 82.3 percent of students received a diploma after four years.
For the class of 2022, Walla Walla Public Schools is well above the state average at 95 percent and College Place did even better at 96 percent. Kennewick is 78 percent, Pasco is 79, Richland is 89, Waitsburg is 90, and Touchet is 88. Also for all the high schools in ESD 123 the four-year grad rate in the most recent school year is 82 percent.
Graduation is a tall order for students experiencing housing instability or living in foster care. But in just the last year, the graduation rate for students in foster care has improved by five percent. Students experiencing homelessness improved by 1.6 percent, and students with disabilities improved by 1.4 percent.
For the 2023-25 biennium, the governor’s proposed budget would commit an additional $3 billion to K-12 education to help pay and recruit teachers.
