Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)-The Rochester Public Schools District’s (RPS) graduation rate beat the state average last year. 

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That’s according to the latest figures released by the Minnesota Department of Education Tuesday morning. The new data also indicated Rochester saw a larger increase in its graduation rate from 2021 to 2022 compared to the statewide average

The data says 85.9% of RPS students graduated last year, which is a return to pre-pandemic number and is up from 83.8% in 2021. That tops the statewide graduation rate of 83.6% and is a 2.1% increase in Rochester compared to a 0.2% statewide rate increase. 

photo by NGUYENTHANHTUNG
photo by NGUYENTHANHTUNG
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RPS saw rates increase by 8.69% for Black and African American students, 2.78% increase for Hispanic or Latino students and a 2.22% increase for white students. A statement from RPS says the district saw a 4.56% increase in graduation rates among students with disabilities and students eligible for free/reduced-price lunches experienced 2.32% graduation rate increase. 

“Throughout the school year last year, we focused on building relationships with all of our students, especially those from groups that struggled the most during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kent Pekel in a statement disclosing the state data. “I think this increase in Rochester’s graduation rate overall and especially the graduation rates of students from historically marginalized communities suggests that strategy paid off."

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