Class of 2025: graduation rates drop, as pandemic-era graduation standards fade away

"They entered high school in a weird place. It is possible that some students started ninth grade not as prepared as they otherwise would have been. - Sarah Part, senior policy analyst at Advocates for Children, regarding the Class of 2025 students who began high school in September 2021 as the first full in-person cohort after pandemic disruptions."

"City officials contend that last year's dip was largely driven by resuming graduation standards that had been relaxed during the pandemic to account for disruptions to instruction. Some students received waivers from Regents exams or were allowed to appeal low scores, but these accommodations were significantly reduced for the Class of 2025."

New York City's high school graduation rate declined to 81.2% for the Class of 2025, marking the largest year-over-year drop in more than two decades. The state graduation rate fell to 85.5%. The decline was most severe for vulnerable student populations: students with disabilities saw a 5.5 percentage point drop to 59%, while English language learners dropped 3 percentage points to 52%. These students began ninth grade in September 2021, the first full in-person cohort after the pandemic. City officials attribute the decline to reinstating graduation standards that were relaxed during the pandemic, including Regents exam requirements. Despite the decline, overall graduation rates remain higher than pre-pandemic levels when 77% of city students graduated in four years.

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