Edited release
04/07/26
Iowa’s high school graduation rate increased half of a percentage point, reaching 88.8% for the graduating class of 2025, according to figures released by the Iowa Department of Education. This marks the highest graduation rate in the past five years and the first time since 2020 that Iowa’s graduation rate has exceeded prepandemic levels.
State data show 35,116 students graduated within four years, increasing 0.5 percentage points from the class of 2024. Now, for the class of 2025, graduation rates are also up 0.5 percentage points from 88.3% for the class of 2019.
Graduation rates for both male and female students increased, but the graduation rate for females continues to outpace that of males by 3.4 percentage points. Students who are Black or African American experienced gains five times higher than Iowa’s overall gains, up 2.5 percentage points. Graduation rates for students who are English learners declined 1.2 percentage points, underscoring the importance of the Iowa Department of Education’s continued investment in both current and future teachers supporting English learners through improved professional learning and preparation.
More information on Iowa’s graduation rates and dropout rates, including rates by school district and student group, are available at a link with this story on the KCJJ website and at 1630 KCJJ dot com.