Iowa’s high school graduation rates have returned to prepandemic levels according to the state’s Department of Education. For the class of 2024, the graduation rate was 88.3 percent, the same as the class of 2019. This data shows an increase from the class of 2023’s 87.5 percent graduation rate.

It was also noted in the report that graduation rates for students who are English learners showed a slight decline last year and was 73.4 percent for the class of 2024.

In comparison, the four-year graduation rate for the class of 2024 in Illinois was 87.7%, in South Dakota it was 84%, while it was higher in Missouri at 90.8%, and in Wisconsin it was 91.1%.

Locally, the four-year graduation rates in Washington County schools for the Class of 2023 (the most recent reporting data from the state’s Department of Education) were: Washington Community School District at 81.5%, Mid-Prairie School District at 88%, and Highland High School at 90.2%.