Nearly all of St. Michael-Albertville High School’s senior class of 2015 made it down the aisle for graduation, putting the school district tops among local graduation rates.
STMA topped Rogers High School, Monticello and Buffalo with more than 98 percent, or 358 students, completing their state required coursework for graduation last year. That was good for 98.6 percent. The Minnesota Department of Education released district-by-district graduation rates Monday, Feb. 22.
It’s a stat that’s up nearly two full points from five years ago, with the district’s efforts to find equity within its education system taking effect. In 2011, about 80 percent of the district’s students taking free or reduced price lunches – those considered economically ‘disadvantaged’ according to the state- were making it through graduation. Last year, 98.2, or 18 of 19 students, graduated on time, as the district continues to aim to close the economic gap, something emphasized by the Minnesota Department of Education.
The state’s average graduation rate is at about 82 percent.
The increase in percentage of graduates comes even as the high school is pushing more seniors through the system than ever before. Just 280 seniors walked down the aisle to get their diploma in 2012. The Class of 2015 is expected to be one of the last for STMA under 400 students, with 385, an increase of more than 75 kids. In comparison, STMA’s current third and fourth-grade levels could send more than 500 students to the senior class by the time it reaches the 2023-2024 school year (without any adjustment for future housing development).
The high graduation rate – among the tops in the state – is continued proof that STMA is able to “do more than anyone else with less than anyone else,” as district leaders, including Dr. James Behle, have said. STMA is one of the lowest-funded districts, per student, of its size. It continues to rank at the bottom in terms of per-student funding from the state when examining the nine-county greater metropolitan area.