Beltrami County graduation rate declines amidst historic statewide increase
May 12—BEMIDJI — The class of 2024 has earned bragging rights for having the highest graduation rate in recorded Minnesota history.
Based on results released by the Minnesota Department of Education on May 7, a total of 59,720 students — 84.2% of the 2024 graduating class overall — earned their diplomas across the state and marked a nearly 1% increase from the 2023 class rate of 83.3%.
Increases were reported across nearly every ethnic category, including students identifying as American Indian, Asian, Black, Hispanic or Latino, as well as white students. Rates also increased for English learners, students from low-income families and those receiving special education services.
"The students of the class of 2024 worked hard and overcame challenges to achieve this milestone," Commissioner Willie Jett said in a release. "I am thrilled to see the success of many of our student groups — especially those most at risk — and a closing of the achievement gap as we work to make sure every student, of every background, zip code, and ability has access to a world-class education."
Amidst these improvements, the release also noted mounting threats from the federal government to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, uproot federal education investments and roll back essential support for vulnerable students.
The department's investments provide support, including:
* $256 million for students with disabilities
* $192 million for students from low-income backgrounds
* $27 million for academic enrichment
* $6 million for students in rural schools
* $38 million to support children living on military bases or tribal lands
* $100 million for Career and Technical Education workforce development programs
"In the face of instability from the federal government, the MDE remains committed to supporting students and schools," the release said.
While the state trended upward,
Beltrami County
saw a slight decline from 65.8% in 2023 to 64.4% in 2024. Graduating 407 out of 632 students, 2024's graduating class still saw a higher graduation rate compared to the 61.7% of students for 2022.
The county's drop-out rate increased from 10.7% in 2023 to 16.1% in 2024, remaining higher than 2022's drop-out rate of 11.4%.
Often used as an indicator for low-income students, those eligible for free or reduced lunches saw a very slight decrease in graduation from 51.2% in 2023 to 50.7%.
American Indian students improved upon 2023's graduation rate, clocking in at 40.2% compared to the 2023 class' 38.8%.
Similar to last year, female graduates ranked above their male counterparts at 67.1% and 61.9%, respectively. Both groups trended downward from 2023, with respective graduation rates of 67.5% and 64.2%.
After a 7.3% increase between 2022 and 2023,
Bemidji Area Schools
experienced a decline from 2023's 77.6% graduation rate to 2024's rate of 74.8%. A total of 288 students out of 385 graduated within four years, while 53 dropped out and 23 continued to earn their diplomas beyond a four-year timeline.
Students receiving free and reduced lunches came in below the district average and also experienced a decrease from 2023's graduation rate of 61.2% to 60.6%.
Male students experienced a sharper decline from 2023 compared to their female counterparts. Males in 2024 graduated at 71.4% compared to 75.6% in 2023, and 2024 females graduated at 78.3% compared to 79.4% in 2023.
American Indian graduates experienced a rate increase from 2023, clocking in at 53.1% from 52% respectively.
For charter schools,
TrekNorth Junior and Senior High School
saw noticeable improvement with 94.6% of all students graduating in 2024, up from 83.9% in 2023.
While
Voyageurs Expeditionary School
did not show four-year graduation rates for 2023, it reported a 31.3% graduation rate for 2024. A total of five students graduated, while four dropped out, five continued their education and two were reported under the "unknown" category, which tracks students who were either incorrectly reported or not reported as enrolled in another district.
After experiencing a considerable decline from 2022,
Cass Lake-Bena
Public Schools saw a slight improvement, graduating 56.3% in 2024 and 50.6% in 2023. Their rate in 2023 marked a decline from 83.1% in 2022.
Red Lake
Public Schools showed a 22.2% four-year graduation rate, down from 29.9% in 2023.
After a roughly 8% decline from 2022,
Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig
School essentially broke even with its 2023 rate of 57.1%.
A complete list of graduation rates for schools, districts and counties across the state can be found on the
Minnesota Department of Education's website.
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