Indiana high school graduation rate falls slightly in 2015

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – New data from the Indiana Department of Education show the state had a slight decrease in its high school graduation rate in 2015.

The data, released Friday, show 88.9 percent of students in Indiana graduated from high school last year, down nearly one percentage point from the previous school year, which was almost 90 percent.

Despite the decrease, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz said that the state’s high school graduation rate has risen from 78.4 percent over the last decade. She said she was pleased with progress to increase the rate.

“However, there is still work to be done to address the diverse needs of students across our state and to close the achievement gaps between student populations,” Ritz said.

Indiana also saw its non-waiver graduation rate fall last year, with 82.8 percent of students graduating without requesting an exemption. That’s down from 83.4 percent the previous school year.

Indianapolis Public Schools saw its overall graduation rate increase to 72.1 percent. IPS deputy superintendent for academics Wanda Legrand said the school now has a 10-member team dedicated to improving graduation rates.

Muncie Community Schools’ graduation rate fell nearly 5 percentage points, from 92.5 percent in 2014 to 87.7 last year. It’s the first time in six years the district fell below the state average.

The increase at Lawrence Township schools outside Indianapolis meant the district met its goal of graduating 90 percent of its seniors.

Steven Goeglein, the district’s assistant superintendent of secondary education, said the rise “means that we are paying better attention to what’s happening with our students and intervening at the right time instead of after the fact.”