The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) announced today the 2022-23 school year’s graduation and dropout rates, revealing an all-time high graduation rate of 89.4% and a reduced dropout rate of 8.5%.

These figures, based on students who entered ninth grade for the first time in the 2019-20 school year, indicate notable progress. Among students with disabilities, the graduation rate rose to 70%, with the dropout rate decreasing to 17.7%.

Mississippi’s public school system has shown a positive trend, with the statewide graduation rate climbing from 74.5% in 2013 to the current record high. It’s important to note that these rates do not account for students who earned a GED or a certificate of completion.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on graduation rates is evident. In 2020-21, passing requirements were waived for high school end-of-year assessments in Algebra I, English II, Biology, and U.S. History. Although these waivers positively influenced the graduation rate, their impact is expected to diminish for the 2023-24 school year.

It’s worth highlighting that Mississippi’s graduation rate surpasses the latest U.S. rate of 86.5% reported by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in 2019-20.

In addition, Mississippi’s statewide dropout rate has decreased from 13.9% in 2013. The current figures reflect a 0.5% decrease from 2021-22 and a 1.6% decrease among students with disabilities.

Dr. Raymond Morgigno, interim state superintendent of education, praised the collective effort of students, parents, teachers, counselors, and administrators across Mississippi, stating, “The hard work of students, parents, teachers, counselors, and administrators across Mississippi continues to produce outstanding outcomes. The MDE is proud of our students’ continued achievements and remains committed to ensuring all students graduate ready for college and career success.”