High School Graduation Rates By State

Last updated November 24, 2024

High School Completion Rate
Top
Last
High School Completion Rate
1.MontanaMontana94.0%
2.WyomingWyoming93.6%
3.VermontVermont93.5%
4.MinnesotaMinnesota93.4%
5.New HampshireNew Hampshire93.3%
6.MaineMaine93.2%
7.AlaskaAlaska93.1%
8.North DakotaNorth Dakota93.1%
9.UtahUtah93.0%
10.WisconsinWisconsin92.6%
11.HawaiiHawaii92.5%
12.IowaIowa92.5%
13.South DakotaSouth Dakota92.2%
14.ColoradoColorado92.1%
15.WashingtonWashington91.7%
16.NebraskaNebraska91.6%
17.KansasKansas91.4%
18.IdahoIdaho91.3%
19.MichiganMichigan91.3%
20.MassachusettsMassachusetts91.1%
21.OregonOregon91.1%
22.PennsylvaniaPennsylvania91.0%
23.ConnecticutConnecticut90.9%
24.OhioOhio90.8%
25.DelawareDelaware90.6%
26.MarylandMaryland90.6%
27.MissouriMissouri90.6%
28.New JerseyNew Jersey90.3%
29.VirginiaVirginia90.3%
30.IllinoisIllinois89.7%
31.IndianaIndiana89.3%
32.Rhode IslandRhode Island89.2%
33.OklahomaOklahoma88.6%
34.FloridaFlorida88.5%
35.North CarolinaNorth Carolina88.5%
36.South CarolinaSouth Carolina88.3%
37.TennesseeTennessee88.2%
38.ArizonaArizona87.9%
39.GeorgiaGeorgia87.9%
40.West VirginiaWest Virginia87.6%
41.ArkansasArkansas87.2%
42.KentuckyKentucky87.2%
43.New YorkNew York87.2%
44.AlabamaAlabama86.9%
45.NevadaNevada86.9%
46.New MexicoNew Mexico86.5%
47.LouisianaLouisiana85.9%
48.MississippiMississippi85.3%
49.TexasTexas84.4%
50.CaliforniaCalifornia83.9%

High School Graduation Rates Across the United States

Navigating the critical pathway from adolescence to adulthood is marked by many milestones, among which high school graduation is undoubtedly a pivotal event. It signifies a launchpad for future opportunities, opening gateways to higher education and empowering personal and professional development. However, not all young adults in the United States reach this landmark due to a potpourri of reasons ranging from familial responsibilities to economic hardship, trailing a wake of lost potential.

  • Montana leads the pack with a graduation rate of 94.0%, closely followed by Wyoming (93.6%), Vermont (93.5%), Minnesota (93.4%), and New Hampshire (93.3%).
  • The states with the lowest graduation rates are concentrated in the Southern and Western United States. California trails the list with a graduation rate of 83.9%. Other states, including Texas (84.4%), Mississippi (85.3%), Louisiana (85.9%), and New Mexico (86.5%), echo the struggle with high school dropout rates.

States with the Highest High School Graduation Rates

Leading the pack, Montana displays a high school completion rate of 94.0%, edging out other states to secure the number one position.

Closely following Montana in this respect, Wyoming, with a completion rate of 93.6%, Vermont, with 93.5%, Minnesota, with 93.4%, and New Hampshire, with 93.3%, complete the top five states in the list.

Further down the list but still amongst the high performers in high school completion are Maine (93.2%), Alaska (93.1%), North Dakota (93.1%), Utah (93.0%), and wrapping up the top ten is Wisconsin at 92.6%.

States with the Highest High School Graduation Rates:

  1. Montana - 94.0%
  2. Wyoming - 93.6%
  3. Vermont - 93.5%
  4. Minnesota - 93.4%
  5. New Hampshire - 93.3%
  6. Maine - 93.2%
  7. Alaska - 93.1%
  8. North Dakota - 93.1%
  9. Utah - 93.0%
  10. Wisconsin - 92.6%

States with the Lowest High School Graduation Rates

Topping the list, with the lowest graduation rate in the country, is California - the state reports a high school completion rate of only 83.9%. Following closely is Texas, the state known for its extensive public school system provides diplomas to 84.4% of its students. Mississippi, with an 85.3% graduation rate, occupies the third position in this list - its education challenges underscoring the broader struggles faced by southern states in this regard.

Louisiana, another southern state, has the fourth-lowest high school graduation rate at 85.9%. Faring marginally better is New Mexico at 86.5%, just shy of Nevada's completion rate of 86.9%. Alabama too has a graduation rate of 86.9%, reflecting the similar education-related challenges these states grapple with.

Even some states with prominent universities and colleges struggle with ensuring high school graduation. A case in point being New York, with a graduation rate of 87.2%. Matching this figure are Kentucky and Arkansas, again accentuating the challenges faced by some parts of the south in ensuring high school completion.

States with Lowest High School Graduation Rates:

  1. California - 83.9%
  2. Texas - 84.4%
  3. Mississippi - 85.3%
  4. Louisiana - 85.9%
  5. New Mexico - 86.5%
  6. Nevada - 86.9%
  7. Alabama - 86.9%
  8. New York - 87.2%
  9. Kentucky - 87.2%
  10. Arkansas - 87.2%

By Region

Alabama

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Ranked in U.S.

#44

Alaska

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Ranked in U.S.

#7

Arizona

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Ranked in U.S.

#38

Arkansas

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Ranked in U.S.

#41

California

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Ranked in U.S.

#50

Colorado

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Ranked in U.S.

#14

Connecticut

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Ranked in U.S.

#23

Delaware

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Ranked in U.S.

#25

Florida

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Ranked in U.S.

#34

Georgia

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Ranked in U.S.

#39

Hawaii

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Ranked in U.S.

#11

Idaho

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Ranked in U.S.

#18

Illinois

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Ranked in U.S.

#30

Indiana

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Ranked in U.S.

#31

Iowa

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Ranked in U.S.

#12

Kansas

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Ranked in U.S.

#17

Kentucky

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Ranked in U.S.

#42

Louisiana

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Ranked in U.S.

#47

Maine

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Ranked in U.S.

#6

Maryland

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Ranked in U.S.

#26

Massachusetts

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Ranked in U.S.

#20

Michigan

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Ranked in U.S.

#19

Minnesota

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Ranked in U.S.

#4

Mississippi

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Ranked in U.S.

#48

Missouri

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Ranked in U.S.

#27

Montana

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Ranked in U.S.

#1

Nebraska

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Ranked in U.S.

#16

Nevada

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Ranked in U.S.

#45

New Hampshire

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Ranked in U.S.

#5

New Jersey

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Ranked in U.S.

#28

New Mexico

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Ranked in U.S.

#46

New York

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Ranked in U.S.

#43

North Carolina

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Ranked in U.S.

#35

North Dakota

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Ranked in U.S.

#8

Ohio

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Ranked in U.S.

#24

Oklahoma

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Ranked in U.S.

#33

Oregon

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Ranked in U.S.

#21

Pennsylvania

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Ranked in U.S.

#22

Rhode Island

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Ranked in U.S.

#32

South Carolina

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Ranked in U.S.

#36

South Dakota

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Ranked in U.S.

#13

Tennessee

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Ranked in U.S.

#37

Texas

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Ranked in U.S.

#49

Utah

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Ranked in U.S.

#9

Vermont

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Ranked in U.S.

#3

Virginia

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Ranked in U.S.

#29

Washington

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Ranked in U.S.

#15

West Virginia

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Ranked in U.S.

#40

Wisconsin

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Ranked in U.S.

#10

Wyoming

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Ranked in U.S.

#2

Table

Region ↕High School Completion Rate↕
Alabama iconAlabama86.9%
Alaska iconAlaska93.1%
Arizona iconArizona87.9%
Arkansas iconArkansas87.2%
California iconCalifornia83.9%
Colorado iconColorado92.1%
Connecticut iconConnecticut90.9%
Delaware iconDelaware90.6%
Florida iconFlorida88.5%
Georgia iconGeorgia87.9%
Hawaii iconHawaii92.5%
Idaho iconIdaho91.3%
Illinois iconIllinois89.7%
Indiana iconIndiana89.3%
Iowa iconIowa92.5%
Kansas iconKansas91.4%
Kentucky iconKentucky87.2%
Louisiana iconLouisiana85.9%
Maine iconMaine93.2%
Maryland iconMaryland90.6%
Massachusetts iconMassachusetts91.1%
Michigan iconMichigan91.3%
Minnesota iconMinnesota93.4%
Mississippi iconMississippi85.3%
Missouri iconMissouri90.6%
Montana iconMontana94.0%
Nebraska iconNebraska91.6%
Nevada iconNevada86.9%
New Hampshire iconNew Hampshire93.3%
New Jersey iconNew Jersey90.3%
New Mexico iconNew Mexico86.5%
New York iconNew York87.2%
North Carolina iconNorth Carolina88.5%
North Dakota iconNorth Dakota93.1%
Ohio iconOhio90.8%
Oklahoma iconOklahoma88.6%
Oregon iconOregon91.1%
Pennsylvania iconPennsylvania91.0%
Rhode Island iconRhode Island89.2%
South Carolina iconSouth Carolina88.3%
South Dakota iconSouth Dakota92.2%
Tennessee iconTennessee88.2%
Texas iconTexas84.4%
Utah iconUtah93.0%
Vermont iconVermont93.5%
Virginia iconVirginia90.3%
Washington iconWashington91.7%
West Virginia iconWest Virginia87.6%
Wisconsin iconWisconsin92.6%
Wyoming iconWyoming93.6%
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