Q&A of the Day – Is Florida’s Graduation Rate Really At Record Highs?
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Today’s Entry: @brianmuddradio Gov. DeSantis saying Florida’s grad rate is at new highs is fake news. It was higher a couple of years ago.
Bottom Line: On Monday Governor DeSantis, who is squarely focused on Florida once again after having ended his presidential bid over the weekend, highlighted Florida’s success in education. The Florida Department of Education released the state’s high school graduation rate for the 2022-2023 school year. The graduation rate, at exactly 88%, was an increase of just under 1% from the previous year. Governor DeSantis celebrated the increase in saying: Florida’s graduation rate continues to climb because our educators place a sole focus on academics in the classroom. Whether Florida students choose a four-year university or non-traditional post-secondary learning, they will have built a strong foundation to set them up for success. And on that note Florida’s Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr. said this: Graduating high school is important for any student’s future. It’s the culmination of many years of dedicated learning, and an accomplishment that prepares students for good jobs, for college admissions and for a better all-around future. Since Governor DeSantis took office, high school graduation rates have climbed to unprecedented levels in our state. I’m so proud of our world-class educators and what this means for students, families and future generations of Floridians.
Something that Florida’s education commissioner hit on is true regardless. Since Governor DeSantis took office, high school graduation rates have climbed to unprecedented levels in our state. Any way you want to look at the issue of Florida’s high school graduation rates, the top years in Florida’s history have all come while DeSantis has been governor and after the implementation of his education agenda. It’s both true that Florida has had higher graduation rates than the 88% just reported from last year and that Florida’s graduation rate is at a record high with 88%. Here’s a breakout of Florida’s high school graduation rates by year:
- ‘04-’05 school year: 58.8% (all-time low)
- ‘12-’13 school year: 75.6% (first time over 75%)
- ‘17-’18 school year: 86.1% (last year prior to DeSantis administration)
- ‘20-’21 school year: 90.1% (peak graduation rate impacted by the pandemic)
- ‘22-’23 school year: 88% (highest non-pandemic graduation rate)
This is where subjectivity comes into play. During the two pandemic impacted school years the state of Florida suspended the standardized testing requirement for graduation. This led to two consecutive school years with 90%+ graduation rates. Each of the previous two school years, with the standardized testing requirements back in place, Florida set a record high for graduation rates. Therefore, it’s true that Florida has had higher graduation rates than the current rate, but also that the current graduation rate is the highest in Florida’s history on an apples-to-apples basis. What we see based on Florida’s grad rates preceding the pandemic and immediately after the pandemic is that approximately 3% more high school students graduated than would have otherwise done so without the suspension of the standardized testing requirement.
Regardless of how you choose to view it, Governor DeSantis and his administration have credibility on the issue. Since the onset of the DeSantis administration with the decision to replace the Common Core curriculum with the B.E.S.T curriculum, in addition to the steady expansion of school choice (which of course now includes universal school choice for the current school year) - Florida’s graduation rates have risen. And in fact, all five of the highest graduation rates in Florida’s history have come within the five full school years since DeSantis became governor with a strong focus on education. In analyzing the data what’s most impressive to me isn’t the graduation rate specifically, but it’s where we’re seeing the most improvement in education outcomes.
What drove Florida’s graduation rate to a record high (with standardized testing in place) was specifically an improvement in minority outcomes and with disabled students. As was highlighted by the Florida Department of Education...
The statewide graduation rate among students in these categories have increased the most since prior to the pandemic:
- Native American students: +7.2%
- Students with disabilities +4.9%
- Black students +1.7%
- Hispanic students: +0.9%
Importantly it’s not just that Florida as a state is seeing record graduation rates, it’s that we’re seeing that achieved through record high graduation rates for students who historically have graduated at much lower rates. Above and beyond debating the details of which year should be considered Florida’s record year for graduation rates, that’s what matters most. More Floridians of all backgrounds are performing better educationally than they ever have and that’s great news for the future regardless. And with the advent of universal school choice this year – I'm excited to see what the result will be going forward. I have a feeling Florida graduation records will continue to be set well into the future.