The Department of Public Instruction released data today showing that less than two-thirds of black students in the class of 2015 graduated from Wisconsin high schools within four years.
Among ethnic groups, White students graduated at the highest rate of 92.9 percent. African Americans graduated at the lowest rate — 64 percent of black students in the class of 2015 graduated within four years. That’s down from 65 percent in 2014.
Wisconsin had 57,698 students graduate from high school with a regular diploma in 2015, a graduation rate of 88.4 percent that bests the national rate of 82.3 percent (Class of 2014). Wisconsin’s graduation rate remained largely unchanged from 2014, down two tenths of a percent.
The new state statistics also show that 77.5 percent of Hispanics, 78.1 percent of American Indians and 85.5 percent of biracial students in the class of 2015 graduated in four years.
“First of all, hats off to our 2015 graduates, many of whom will soon finish up their first year of postsecondary study at a technical college or university,” said State Superintendent Tony Evers. “High school graduation is a milestone; a bridge to the next steps in life. So, for the more than 7,000 students who didn’t graduate last spring, there are resources to help you get back on track to earn a high school credential.”
