Colorado’s four-year graduation rate climbed to its highest in more than a decade while the state’s dropout rate dropped to an all-time low, according to data released Tuesday by the Colorado Department of Education.
During the 2024-25 school year, Colorado counted 60,387 graduates who earned their diploma in four years, putting the graduation rate at 85.6%. That marks an increase of 2,069 students from the previous school year, according to state data.
About 70% of the state’s districts and boards of cooperative educational services, or BOCES, saw their four-year graduation rates remain steady or improve over the 2023-24 school year, according to state data.
Meanwhile, the state’s dropout rate fell to 1.6%, the lowest on record, according to the state education department.
The latest figures “show encouraging progress,” Colorado Education Commissioner Susana Córdova said in a statement. She also acknowledged the need to continue giving additional help to students who tend to struggle more than their peers. As was true in previous years, struggling students continue to trail behind the state rate. Those include students who are homeless, migrant students, kids with special needs, students learning English as a second language, kids in foster care and students from low-income families.
“We need to keep a continued focus on engagement, relevance and the supports students need to stay connected to school and graduate prepared for their futures,” Córdova said.
Colorado allows students who need more time in high school to graduate within five, six or seven years. The graduation rates for those groups of students also increased.
This is a developing story that will be updated.