Graduation rates improve across Oregon
By Terry Murry on Thursday, January 30th, 2025 in Columbia Basin News Featured Stories More Top Stories
SALEM – The Oregon Department of Education released the four-year high school graduation rates for school districts throughout the state this morning (Thursday). The rate for the class of 2024 is 81.8 percent, the second highest the state has achieved. Last year’s senior class began high school in distance learning due to the pandemic. At the end of their first year, only 73.6 percent were on track to graduate in four years.
“I’m proud of the class of 2024 and the educators and parents who didn’t give up on students,” Gov. Tina Kotek said. “This news is about resilience and dedication.”
ODE states that when compared to other states, Oregon has one of the most demanding graduation requirements in the country according to the Education Commission of the United States.
High school students from Pendleton, Hermiston, and Umatilla also showed improvement. News releases from those school districts are below.
PENDLETON (Pendleton High School, Hawthorne High School, and Nixyaawii Community School):
On Thursday, January 30, 2025, the Oregon Department of Education released the graduation cohort and dropout data for all public school districts in Oregon. The Pendleton School District results are very strong with a couple very specific areas needing improvement.
The four-year cohort graduation rates are calculated by following students from the fall of their first year in high school to the end of their fourth year. This tells us the percentage of those students who graduated within four years. The Pendleton School District graduation rates represent a combination of all students who attended Pendleton High School, Hawthorne High School and Nixyaawii Community School.
This year’s four-year cohort is made up of the students who first entered high school in the fall of 2020. This is important to note since these students started high school 100% online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There has been much to overcome for these students and many challenges our staff have faced head-on to ensure these students graduate. We celebrate the successes of these students and staff and thank them for their efforts.
The Pendleton School District four-year cohort rate is 83.2%. This is a 6.5% increase from the year before and almost 2% higher than the state average.
We have listed areas to celebrate success and a few areas of improvement.
Areas of success:
• 6.5% increase in general graduation rate
• 8.2% increase in Hispanic student graduation rate
• 6.2% increase in students w/disabilities graduation rate
• 4.7% increase in 4-year completion rate
• No “gap” between general population and Native American students or between white students and Native American students
• Student dropout rate lowered by 1% to 3.8% as compared to previous year
• Exceeded state average in every area except dropout rate and 5-year completion rate
Areas of improvement:
• A graduation rate of 83.2%, although an increase from the previous year, is still much lower than our goal to help all students succeed.
• Our 5 year completion rate is 3% lower than state average (83.7%). This is much lower than the goal of helping all students receive a diploma, certificate or GED.
We also look at specific school rates as we celebrate successes and try to replicate them in all schools. The Pendleton High School rates increased in nearly every area and exceeds the state average in every area. PHS’s outstanding graduation rates are a great tribute to the many hours of hard work our staff and community invest in our students.
The Pendleton High School four-year cohort rate is 88.8%. This is a 4.9% increase from the year before and 7% higher than the state average.
Areas of success:
• Dropout rate lowered from 3.16% to 1.9%
• Virtually no gap between Native American students and the general student population (1.3% difference)
• Graduation rate for students with disabilities increased by 2.3% to 74.2%
• Exceeds state average in all areas
Areas of improvement:
• Graduation “gaps” still exist between some student groups and the general student graduation rate
• 5-year completion rate, although higher than state average, is still an area to improve upon to ensure the success of all students
The Hawthorne High School four-year cohort rate is 55%. This is a 10.3% increase from the year before and almost 27% higher than five years ago.
Areas of success:
• 4-year completion rate of 72.5%, highest ever achieved for Hawthorne
• 5-year completion rate at 69.1%, highest ever achieved for Hawthorne
Areas of improvement:
• Dropout rate very high at 15.8%
The Nixyaawii Community School four-year cohort rate is 87%. This is a 14.3% increase from the year before and 6% higher than the state average.
Areas of success:
• Dropout rate lowered by 1.57% to 5.1%
• 11.2% increase in 4-year completion rate
• Native American student graduation rate is 87%, 17% higher than state average for Native American students
Areas of improvement:
• Dropout rate at 5.1% is higher than desired and above the state average of 3.3%
• 5-year completion rate is 75.8%, well below the state average of 86.7%
HERMISTON HIGH SCHOOL:
Hermiston School District has released its graduation data for the 2023-2024 academic year, showing steady progress. The four-year graduation rate has increased to 80.1%, a 1.8% improvement from the previous year, with a four-year graduation rate of 78.3%. These figures align closely with Oregon’s statewide
graduation rate of 81.8%, marking a positive trend for both the district and the state. The district’s four-year completer rate, which includes students earning extended diplomas or GEDs, is 83.1%.
Attendance has also seen notable improvement, increasing from 59.5% in 2022-2023 to 64.5% in 2023-2024.
This progress highlights the district's commitment to re-engaging students and families through data-driven approaches, enhanced communication, and fostering welcoming school environments.
Superintendent Dr. Tricia Mooney emphasized, “We are proud of the progress our students and staff have made, and we remain dedicated to ensuring every student has the tools they need to succeed.”
Director of Secondary Education Scott Depew added, “Our educators and support teams are focused on creating an environment where students feel supported academically and personally. These improvements reflect their hard work and dedication.”
Hermiston School District continues to collaborate with families, educators, and the community to address challenges, enhance resources, and prepare students for a successful future.
UMATILLA HIGH SCHOOL:
Umatilla High School’s Class of 2024 has achieved an impressive 90.5% four-year completion rate, surpassing the state average of 84.5%. This accomplishment highlights the school’s dedication to student success and its commitment to providing a quality education.
In addition to their notable graduation rate, the Class of 2024 earned 1,682 college credits, with eight students graduating with their Associate of Arts Transfer Degrees from Blue Mountain Community College concurrently with their high school diplomas.
“These results are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, staff, and families,” said Superintendent Heidi Sipe. “I commend our high school staff for their unwavering support of students throughout their high school journey, our elementary staff for laying a strong foundation, and our middle school staff for preparing students for the challenges of high school.”
She emphasized the importance of early literacy, dual language education, and support services at all levels in preparing students for success after high school. Sipe emphasized the importance of Career Technical Education (CTE) in preparing students for success after high school, highlighting that Umatilla High School’s graduation rate for students concentrating in
CTE areas exceeds 95%, mirroring the high state average. “Relevant and applicable skill development matters to student success and this is well evidenced in the success of students in CTE courses in Umatilla, and across the state.”
Umatilla High School’s success is evident across various student groups, including:
● Male students: >95% graduation rate, exceeding the state average of 83%.
● Hispanic students: 91.3% graduation rate, surpassing the state average of 80.9%.
● English Learners: 92% graduation rate for those who were English Learners at any time
in high school, significantly higher than the state average of 68.9%.
● Students experiencing poverty: 84.8% graduation rate, exceeding the state average of 73.2%.
