Florida’s Graduation Rate is Rising

PRESS RELEASE, Governor Ron DeSantis

\Florida’s 2023-2024 Graduation Rate Breaks State Record at 89.7%
Florida’s graduation rate rises nearly two percentage points over the previous year

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—January 9, 2025 – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida’s high school graduation rate rose to 89.7 percent during the 2023-2024 school year, an increase of 1.7 percentage points over last year, exceeding the pre-pandemic rate of 86.9% for the 2018-2019 school year. The 2023–2024 high school graduation rate represents the highest rate in Florida history, with the exception of the pandemic school years 2019–20 and 2020–21, in which graduating classes were exempt from statewide, standardized assessment requirements stipulated in state law.

“Florida leads the nation in education because we put education over indoctrination, empower parents, and have made school choice universal,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “This record graduation rate is a prime metric of our success, in addition to our #1-in-the-nation rating.”

“Florida’s graduation rate continues to climb,” said Florida Department of Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr. “Florida is number one for education because of our commitment to providing a quality education that fits the needs of each student, and our climbing graduation rate is proof positive that our approach is working. Under the leadership of Governor DeSantis, Florida will continue to lead the nation in educational success.”

Highlights from Florida’s 2023-2024 high school graduation rate include:

• The 2023-24 graduation rate rose to 89.7 percent, an increase of 1.7 percentage points over last year and 2.4 percentage points from 2021-22.
• African American students’ graduation rate rose 2.1 percentage points over last year, and 3.3 percentage points since 2021-22.
• Hispanic students’ graduation rate increased by 2.2 percentage points from last year and 3.1 percentage points over 2021-22.
• The graduation rate for students with disabilities rose 1.3 percentage points over last year and 3.3 percentage points from 2021-22.
• Economically disadvantaged students’ graduation rate rose 2.4 percentage points over last year and 3.1 percentage points from 2021-22.
• English Language learners’ graduation rate improved 4.6 percentage points over last year and 7.7 percentage points since 2021-22.

Under Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida’s graduation rate has increased significantly, moving from 70.6% to the record high rate of 89.7 in 2023-2024.

For more information abut Florida’s 2023-24 graduation rate, visit https://www.fldoe.org/accountability/data-sys/edu-info-accountability-services/pk-12-public-school-data-pubs-reports/students.stml

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February 2025 – REPORT from the Florida Department of Education: 

Florida’s high school graduation rate increased by 1.7 percentage points over the last year, which continues to exceed the pre-pandemic rate. The graduation rate has increased significantly over the past twenty years. The rate rose from 59.2 percent in 2003-04 to 89.7 percent in 2023-24, which is a 30.5 percentage-point increase.

When comparing to the 2019-20 and 2020-21 graduation rates, it is important to note that pursuant to Florida Department of Education Emergency Order No. 2020-EO-1 and Florida Department of Education Emergency Order No. 2021-EO-02, students in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 graduating classes were exempt from statewide, standardized assessment requirements stipulated in s. 1003.4282, F.S. Further, the graduation rate has increased by 2.4 percentage points compared to 2021-22, the first year graduation requirements were reinstated following the pandemic.

Federal regulations require each state to calculate a four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate, which includes standard diplomas but excludes GEDs, both regular and adult. The U.S. Department of Education (USED) adopted this calculation method in an effort to develop uniform, accurate, and comparable graduation rates across all states. The USED required states to begin calculating the adjusted cohort graduation rate in 2010-11. This graduation rate is currently used in Florida’s school accountability system in the school grades calculation.

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