High School Graduation Rates by State — 2026 Rankings

The national average high school graduation rate is about 87%, but that average masks enormous state-level variation. Some states graduate over 93% of their students while others struggle below 80%. Here's the complete state-by-state picture.

Why Graduation Rate Matters

Graduation rate is weighted 20% of the DataScore for high schools because it represents the minimum threshold of educational success. A school where 15% of students never graduate is failing a significant portion of its population, regardless of how well the remaining students score on tests. High graduation rates correlate with better employment outcomes, higher lifetime earnings, and lower incarceration rates.

Browse School Performance by State

Click any state to see its top schools, grade distribution, and most improved schools:

Alabama — Avg C Alaska — Avg C Arizona — Avg C Arkansas — Avg C California — Avg C Colorado — Avg C Connecticut — Avg C Delaware — Avg C District of Columbia — Avg C Florida — Avg C Georgia — Avg C Hawaii — Avg C Idaho — Avg C Illinois — Avg C Kansas — Avg C Louisiana — Avg C Maine — Avg C Maryland — Avg C Massachusetts — Avg C Michigan — Avg C Mississippi — Avg D Missouri — Avg C Montana — Avg C Nebraska — Avg C Nevada — Avg D New Hampshire — Avg C New Jersey — Avg C New Mexico — Avg C New York — Avg C North Carolina — Avg C North Dakota — Avg C Ohio — Avg C Oklahoma — Avg C Oregon — Avg C Pennsylvania — Avg C Rhode Island — Avg C South Carolina — Avg C South Dakota — Avg C Tennessee — Avg C Texas — Avg C Utah — Avg C Vermont — Avg C Virginia — Avg C Washington — Avg C West Virginia — Avg C Wisconsin — Avg C Wyoming — Avg C

What Drives State-Level Differences

Poverty rate — States with higher child poverty rates consistently show lower graduation rates
Funding model — States that fund schools primarily through local property taxes create larger disparities between wealthy and poor districts
Credit requirements — States with more graduation requirements (AP courses, community service) can inadvertently increase dropout rates
Alternative pathways — States with robust GED, vocational, and alternative diploma programs recover some students who would otherwise be counted as non-graduates

See the top 100 schools by graduation rate or explore best high schools overall.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the national average graduation rate?

The national average high school graduation rate is approximately 87%, based on the most recent NCES data. This represents the adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), which tracks students from 9th grade through on-time graduation four years later.

Which state has the highest graduation rate?

States in the Midwest and Northeast tend to have the highest graduation rates, with several states exceeding 90%. Smaller states with more homogeneous populations typically report higher rates than large, diverse states.

Why do graduation rates vary by state?

Graduation rate differences are driven by poverty rates, funding models, state policies on credit requirements, alternative education availability, and how states count students who transfer, earn GEDs, or take more than four years to graduate.