The graduation rate for Highline Public Schools increased for the seventh straight year, the district announced this week.

The overall graduation rate for the Class of 2020 is 83.8 percent. In 2019, it was 83.3 percent.

The greatest increase came for Black/African American students, who graduated at the highest rate ever in Highline, at 88.7 percent. That is an increase of 12 percentage points over the previous year.

While the districtwide increase over last year is small (just one-half percentage point), it comes during an unprecedented year, when seniors spent the final three months of high school learning remotely.

Highline seniors rose to the challenge, stayed connected to school, and completed their coursework under difficult circumstances.

“I’m so proud of our Class of 2020!” said Superintendent Susan Enfield. “We know Distance Learning was a real challenge last spring, but our students, families, teachers and staff have shown tremendous resilience in the face of adversity. I am grateful for the support of our community, and not at all surprised at how brightly our students shine when provided with access and opportunity.”

The graduation rate for Native American students is up five percentage points over last year. Latino and Pacific Islander students also graduated at slightly higher rates.

Here are the numbers for the 2020 school year by race or ethnicity:

Student Groups Number of Students
(2020)
Grad Rate
(2020)
Grad Rate
(2019)
Grad Rate
(2013)
OVERALL 1,149 83.8% 83.3% 62.3%
American Indian/Alaskan Native 7 58.3% 53.3% 38.9%
 

Asian

218 87.9% 89.0% 72.1%
Black/African American 157 88.7% 76.5% 54.6%
Hispanic/Latino of any race(s) 415 77.9% 77.6% 50.1%
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander 41 78.8% 76.7% 47.9%
Two or more Races 60 88.2% 91.6% 71.7%
White 251 89.3% 90.6% 72.8%

 

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