15 years and counting – Florida graduation rates are still climbing

By Patricia Levesque, Executive Director

When you set high expectations for students, they consistently rise to achieve them. That’s why it’s no surprise that Florida’s graduation rate rose again this year.

According to the Florida Department of Education, Florida’s statewide graduation rate increased 3.8 percentage points to 86.1 percent.

2017-18 Graduation Rate Highlights:

• Florida’s statewide graduation rate has increased 26.9 percentage points since 2003.
• The statewide graduation rate among Black/African American students increased by more than 6 percentage points to 80.9 percent in 2017-18.
• The statewide graduation rate among Hispanic students increased by more than 3 percentage points to 85.1 percent in 2017-18.

What’s most impressive is that Florida’s statewide graduation rate is at a 15-year high even as leaders have raised academic expectations for high school graduates.

Florida’s school accountability policies have significantly improved the lives of countless children and these results are further confirmation that we must continue advocating for student-centered policies.

I hope you will join me in commending our state’s dedicated teachers for working to ensure each and every child receives a quality education that leads to lifelong success.