The State of High School Graduation Rates

This brief examines the notable trends and disparities in high school graduation rates between English-Learner classified students (ELs) and non-English-Learner classified students in California over the past five years.

The analysis reveals that while overall graduation rates have shown a positive increase, English-Learner classified students continue to have consistently lower graduation rates compared to their non-EL peers. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions and support systems to address the unique challenges faced by English-Learner classified students and ensure equitable access to educational opportunities.

Key findings include:

• English Learners are less likely to graduate compared to their peers. CA’s 15 largest districts had an average gap of 11.64 percentage points.
• UC/CSU admission was even less likely for English Learners: among these 15 districts, there was an average gap of 24.31 percentage points between the rate of total students who met UC/CSU admission criteria and the rate of English Learners.

This brief is part of The Landscape of Language Learners in California’s MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Support) series.