Graduation rates are on the rise in the Kent School District.
Eighty-four percent of students who entered high school in 2015 graduated within four years, the third straight year graduation rates have risen and up from the 78.6 percent rate from the class of 2014, according to a Kent School District news release on Tuesday.
The statewide graduation rate for the class of 2019 was 80.9 percent.
Kentwood had the highest graduation rate at 92.4 percent, according to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction website. Kentridge was next at 88.6 percent followed by Kentlake at 82.3 percent and Kent-Meridian at 77.6 percent.
African American and Hispanic students in the district continue to graduate at rates higher than ever. African American students in the class of 2019 graduated at a rate of 82.6 percent, which is higher than the state’s African American rate of 73.6 percent. The 82.6 percent rate for KSD class of 2019 African American students also surpasses the state’s rate of 80.9 percent for all students. KSD Class of 2019 Hispanic student’s graduation rate of 76.89 percent continues to rise and outpace the state’s Hispanic student rate of 75.7 percent.
“This rise reflects the exceptional work of our students and staff and the tremendous support of our families and community-based organizations,” Superintendent Calvin J. Watts said in the news release. “And while these gains represent the whole student body, specific student groups are not achieving at the same rate and we still have much work to do to ensure we are successfully preparing all students for their futures.”
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