Saint Paul, Minn. (Feb. 21, 2016) — The four-year student graduation rates for Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) remain steady, with one high school’s rate a full 10 percentage points above the state average. The graduation rate for Black and Hispanic SPPS students increased and exceeds the state graduation rate for the second consecutive year.
“In each of the past six years we’ve seen an increase, and this year we’re holding steady,” said SPPS Superintendent Valeria Silva. “At the same time, we continue to close the graduation gap for students of color.”
Seven high schools in the District are above the state average of 82 percent for graduation.
According to the data released today by the Minnesota Department of Education, graduation rate highlights for SPPS including the following:
• Graduation rates for Hispanic students have increased for seven consecutive years.
• Graduation rates for Black students have increased for four consecutive years.
• Focus and Priority schools saw impressive results.
• Creative Arts Secondary, which is a priority school, shows 76 percent – a promising baseline.
• Humboldt Secondary School, a Focus school, saw an increase of 8.84 percentage points.
• Highland Park Senior and Washington Technology Magnet are showing three years of continual improvement.
• At both Washington Technology Magnet and Humboldt Secondary, all student groups saw increases from 2014 to 2015.
The SPPS graduation rate is higher than the state average for four student groups: Hispanic students, Black students, English Language Learners (ELL), and students receiving free/reduced lunch (FRL).
All comprehensive high schools in SPPS have higher rates than the state average for four student groups: Black, FRL, Hispanic and ELL.
Among these groups, SPPS saw the largest increase for Hispanic students: from 69.39 percent to 71.65 percent, an increase of 2.26 percentage points.
Four student groups continue to have stable graduation rates, with changes between +1 and -1 percentage point: American Indian, Black, White, and students receiving free/reduced priced lunch.
