Oregon’s high school graduation rate inches up to record high, still below U.S. average; look up your school, district
By Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Oregon high schoolers in the class of 2025 graduated at all-time highs for the state but still at a lower rate than recent national averages, according to the latest state data released Thursday by the Oregon Department of Education.
Despite stubbornly small gains in student proficiency in key subject areas since the pandemic, and consistently high absenteeism rates, more than 40,300 students graduated from Oregon’s public schools in 2025, reaching an 83% four-year graduation rate, the Oregon Department of Education announced Thursday.
It’s an increase of 9 percentage points over the last decade and 1 percentage point over the previous year, equivalent to about 500 more students graduating in 2025 than in 2024. It’s the highest graduation rate ever recorded in the state, besting the previous record of 82.6% achieved by the class of 2020.
But it’s still below national averages in recent years that have hovered around 87% according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. News and World Report. The National Center for Education Statistics has not published a nationwide average graduation rate since 2023.
Oregon’s class of 2025 was the first to have attended all four years of high school in person since the COVID pandemic shut down schools and moved students to remote learning. Among the 23 different student groups the education department tracks, 19 saw record graduation rates, including among migrant students, students in special education programs, foster students and students experiencing poverty and houselessness.
Charlene Williams, director of the Oregon Department of Education, said at a news conference Tuesday ahead of the data release that squaring rising graduation rates with stagnant student proficiency levels, as measured by state assessment data, has less to do with real learning challenges than with Oregon schools’ and parents’ attitudes towards state testing.
Oregon’s participation rates in state assessment tests are among the most inconsistent in the nation, state education officials have said, because Oregon allows parents to opt their kids out of taking them.
“I think there are two things that can be true in this moment. Our graduation rate, I believe, does reflect real progress in supporting students to stay in and complete school,” she told reporters. “The reconciling is: We have more work to do to ensure that we are taking those assessments seriously, and that our teachers and our students have what they need to perform well on those state assessments.”
Williams and state education officials highlighted the growing number of Oregon high schoolers participating in college-level coursework and taking Advanced Placement exams, up 70% since 2021, and gains made across all student groups who took at least two career and technical education classes, or CTE classes.
Graduation rates were 20 percentage points higher for American Indian and Alaska Native students who took CTE classes than their peers who did not.
Williams said it was “clear evidence that relevant hands-on learning, connected to future careers, makes a difference.”
Of Oregon’s 115 school districts with more than 50 high school graduates, 20% saw record graduation rates in 2025, including small districts like St. Helens and Banks that saw double-digit growth in their graduation rates.
In November, state education officials shared that a record 86.6% of Oregon’s 9th graders during the 2024-25 school year were on track to graduate in four years.
“That is a powerful indicator that more students are starting high school with the momentum they need to succeed,” Williams said. “Today’s graduation results show what happens when that momentum is sustained.”
Oregon Dept. of Education news release:
Class of 2025 Sets Oregon High School Graduation Rate Record
83.0% graduation rate marks the highest on-time completion rate in state history; the previous record of 82.6% was set by the Class of 2020, whose senior year ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Salem, OR) – According to data released today by the Oregon Department of Education (ODE), the Class of 2025 achieved Oregon’s highest high school graduation rate ever, with 83.0% of students earning a diploma on time. That represents 1,546 more graduates than last year and surpasses the previous record of 82.6%, set by the Class of 2020.
The Class of 2025 is also the first graduating cohort since the pandemic positioned to complete all four years of high school in person, making this milestone an important signal of recovery, stability, and renewed momentum across Oregon’s schools.
“Achieving proficiency in core skills and graduating from high school create future possibilities for every child to reach their full potential,” Governor Tina Kotek said. “I’m grateful to our educators whose hard work is showing progress in these positive trends.”
“This graduating class shows what’s possible when students are supported and expectations are clear,” said Dr. Charlene Williams, Director of the Oregon Department of Education. “Earning a diploma opens doors to college, careers, and opportunity, and today’s graduation rate reflects the hard work of Oregon’s students, families, educators, and communities. But it also reminds us that our work starts much earlier, with strong literacy, steady attendance, and the supports students need to stay on track from their first day of school to their last.”
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On-time graduation rates have increased by an average of about 1 percentage point each year since 2013-14, and the rate has increased more than 9 percentage points over the last decade.
Record-High Graduation Rates for Student Groups
Students completing two credits in an approved Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program of Study continued to lead all student groups, graduating at a record rate of 97.8%, 15.8 percentage points higher than the statewide average.
Many other student groups achieved the highest graduation rates ever recorded in Oregon:
- American Indian/Alaska Native: 74.0% (up 3.9 percentage points)
- Students in Special Education: 72.2% (up 3.4 points)
- Students In Foster Care: 54.4% (up 3.4 percentage points)
- Students Experiencing Poverty: 71.3% (up 2.2 percentage points)
- English Learners, Anytime in High School: 69.8% (up 1.8 points)
- English Learners, Exited Prior to High School: 89.5% (up 1.7 points)
- Students experiencing houselessness, 62.5%: (up 1.2 percentage points)
- Hispanic/Latino Students: 79.9% (up 1.1 percentage points)
These gains signal meaningful progress for student populations that have historically faced significant barriers to graduation.
Looking Ahead
ODE continues to strengthen the pipeline to graduation through early literacy efforts, high school success programs, and Oregon’s new Education Accountability Act (SB 141), which establishes clear statewide targets for student outcomes and ensures schools and districts receive timely, data-driven support when students need it.
Graduation is not the beginning of the work; it is the result of years of opportunity, engagement, and support.
Every student in Oregon deserves a clear path from early learning to high school completion, so they leave ready to learn, earn, and thrive. ODE remains committed to ensuring that path is strong, equitable, and aligned to student success.
News release from Crook County School District:
Crook County School District Graduation Rates Among the Highest in Oregon
Crook County, OR — Crook County School District is celebrating exceptional graduation outcomes, ranking near the top of the state in newly released Oregon graduation data. These results reflect the district’s unwavering commitment to knowing, supporting, and empowering every student.
For the Class of 2025, Crook County High School achieved a graduation rate of 98.4%, the district overall reached 97.8%, and Pioneer Alternative High School posted a rate of 97.3%—figures that far exceed state averages and underscore the district’s student-centered approach.
School and district leaders attribute this success to a comprehensive student tracking and support system that allows staff to identify and address academic concerns at the earliest signs. Combined with the district’s smaller size, this approach ensures no student is overlooked and every student is known by caring adults.
"More than just earning a diploma, graduation is fundamentally about connection," stated Jake Huffman, Principal of Crook County High School. "Student success is directly linked to feeling seen, supported, and appropriately challenged. Our committed staff works collaboratively to make certain every student finds a place, understands their purpose, and develops a plan for their future. A key priority is ensuring students connect with a person or activity beyond their regular classroom schedule."
The district also credits its strong investment in Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, high-level academic coursework that offers college credit opportunities, NJROTC, and a wide range of clubs and activities. Together, these academic, technical, and extracurricular pathways provide meaningful engagement, challenge, and purpose, helping students stay connected and motivated through graduation.
“We are deeply proud of our students and staff,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Joel Hoff. “These graduation rates are not accidental. They reflect a districtwide belief that every student
