The 2023 graduation rates paint a troubling picture: Minnesota’s state average sits at 83.3%, while Mankato lags behind at 79.8%. Within the district, West High boasts an 87.4% graduation rate, East is at 83.6%, and then there’s Central—staggering at just 16.3%. The glaring disparity in graduation rates, particularly in schools with higher economic challenges, reflects a deeper problem. But instead of addressing this by fortifying academic accountability, the state and our district continues its trend of stripping it away.

In 2013, the legislature eliminated the requirement for minimum test scores to earn a high school diploma. This isn’t just a Minnesota issue. As The Economist pointed out, American high schools are lowering academic standards to push more students toward graduation, and it’s the most vulnerable students who suffer the most.

I remember attending a Mankato Area School board meeting where a principal declared that the key to a successful future is a diploma. But I would argue that it’s not the piece of paper that guarantees success; it’s the quality of the education behind it.

Yes, increasing graduation rates is important, but we must ensure that these numbers don’t reflect a lowering of academic expectations. Real success comes not from inflating graduation statistics, but from holding firm to rigorous academic standards that prepare students for the future—not just hand them a diploma.

***Graduation data in Minnesota is typically a year behind because it takes time to collect, verify, and analyze information from schools. Schools submit their data at the end of the school year, and the Minnesota Department of Education needs several months to review and ensure its accuracy. This process, along with meeting federal reporting requirements, causes the delay in releasing official graduation rates.

Thanks,

Elizabeth Hanke