Indiana high school graduation rate barely rose in 2016

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The percentage of Indiana high school graduates rose just barely in 2016.

The Indiana Department of Education said Thursday that 89 percent of students graduated last year, compared to 88.8 percent in 2015. The rate was just 78 percent back in 2006.

The state also reported that 82.3 percent of students graduated last year without a waiver from certain statewide exams, down from 82.8 percent in 2015.

Nearly 91 percent of white students graduated, while about 80 percent of black students graduated. Girls had a 3-percentage point edge over boys.

Demographics and other school data for the state of Indiana are listed below:

Student Demographic Cohort Count* Graduates 2016 Grad Rate
American Indian                             216                      183 84.72%
Asian                         1,576                  1,460 92.64%
Black                         9,060                  7,208 79.56%
Hispanic                         6,663                  5,749 86.28%
Multiracial                         2,997                  2,595 86.59%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander                               48                        43 89.58%
White                       58,581                53,255 90.91%
Paid meals                       48,830                46,428 95.08%
Free/Reduced price meals                       27,418                23,702 86.45%
General Education                       68,223                63,762 93.46%
Special Education                         9,136                  6,677 73.08%
Non-English Language Learner                       76,042                69,451 91.33%
English Language Learner                         1,317                      988 75.02%
Female                       39,803                36,129 90.77%
Male                       39,338                34,364 87.36%
School Demographic Cohort Count* Graduates 2016 Grad Rate
Public                       74,453                66,113 88.80%
Non-Public                         4,688                  4,380 93.43%
Total             79,141       70,493 89.07%