Four-year graduation rate increased .8%, returning to prepandemic levels
Iowa’s high school graduation rate climbed nearly a full percentage point, reaching 88.3% for the graduating class of 2024, according to figures released today by the Iowa Department of Education. This marks the first time since 2020 that Iowa’s graduation rate has returned to prepandemic levels.
State data show 88.3% of students in Iowa’s class of 2024 graduated within four years, increasing 0.8 percentage points from 87.5% for the class of 2023 and is the same rate as the class of 2019. A total of 34,158 Iowa students earned their high school diplomas in the class of 2024.
“Nearly 900 more students in the class of 2024 earned their high school diploma, positioning them to succeed in postsecondary education and higher-wage, fulfilling careers,” said Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow. “Our data also shows encouraging, significant progress in narrowing graduation rate gaps experienced by students with disabilities and students from low-income backgrounds. Together with educators and families, Iowa will continue to provide all students with what they need to meet high expectations and realize their incredible potential.”
Iowa’s four-year graduation rate experienced by students with disabilities is 70.3%, representing an increase of 2.4 percentage points. The graduation rate for students from low-income backgrounds as determined by eligibility for free or reduced-price school meals is 80.2% which is a 1.5 percentage point increase from the previous year.
Graduation rates for students who are English learners declined slightly from 73.7% the prior year to 73.4% for the graduating class of 2024. The graduation rate for males is 86.7%, 3.2 percentage points lower than the graduation rate for females (89.9%); this gap has decreased since the class of 2022 when it was at 4.5 percentage points. Additionally, four-year graduation rates by racial and ethnic background increased for most student groups, including Black or African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, two or more races, and white.
Iowa’s four-year graduation rate for the class of 2024 is significantly higher than several of its neighboring states; Illinois and South Dakota recently reported 2024 graduation rates below Iowa’s, at 87.7% and 84.0%, respectively. Among neighboring states, only Missouri and Wisconsin reported class of 2024 graduation rates meaningfully above Iowa’s, at 90.8% and 91.1% respectively.
Iowa graduation rates are calculated with a formula established by the U.S. Department of Education. Unique student identification numbers allow school districts to account for all ninth-grade students as they move through high school. At the state level, the method helps determine when a student graduates, even if the student has switched districts during high school.
Iowa’s five-year graduation rate — which reflects students who were part of a graduating class but took an extra year to finish high school — was 89.9% for the class of 2023, up slightly from 89.7% for the class of 2022, yet slightly below 90.5% for the class of 2019.
Iowa’s annual dropout rate reflects the percent of students in grades 9-12 who dropped out of school during a single year. The annual dropout rate was 2.59% percent for the 2023-24 school year, showing an improvement from 3.02% in the 2022-23 school year and 2.61% in the 2018-19 school year. The state’s 2023-24 dropout rate represents 4,052 students dropping out in grades 9 through 12.
More information on Iowa’s graduation rates and dropout rates, including rates by school district and student group, are available on the Department of Education’s Graduation Rates and Dropout Rates webpage.