Minnesota’s class of 2025 just pulled off a milestone: a record 84.9% of high school seniors earned a diploma on time, according to state data released Friday. It is the second year in a row that the statewide four-year graduation rate has set a new high. The gains stretched across much of the state but did not land evenly, with American Indian students and several other student groups posting relatively large increases. A growing seven-year “super senior” cohort also helped nudge the numbers up, as schools leaned on credit recovery, attendance outreach, and expanded student supports.
Education Commissioner Willie Jett praised the graduates and credited “increased engagement and school supports” for the rise, as reported by the Star Tribune. The paper reports the four-year rate climbed to 84.9% in 2025, up from 84.2% the year before. Officials told reporters that adults in schools who connect students to postsecondary and career options have been crucial in keeping students on track through to graduation.
Where the official data live
The full breakdown, including school-by-school spreadsheets, is posted on the state’s reporting site. The Minnesota Report Card was scheduled to refresh the morning of April 3 when the new figures went live. Families, educators, and data nerds alike can use the Minnesota Report Card or the Minnesota Department of Education’s data downloads to pull four-, five-, and seven-year cohort rates and to grab district spreadsheets for local comparison.
Which students and schools moved the needle
According to the Star Tribune, American Indian students showed the largest year-to-year statewide gain, with an increase of about 4.8 percentage points. The seven-year cohort, which includes students who take extra time to finish, graduated at roughly 88%. In Minneapolis, the four-year rate hovered near 73% while the seven-year rate was about 83%. St. Paul’s overall graduation rate rose to about 78%. Both urban districts reported double-digit gains for American Indian students.
The paper also highlighted individual school numbers, pointing to Edison High’s 78% four-year rate and North High’s 81% as notable examples in the latest round of data.
What the headline number doesn’t tell you
The rising stack of diplomas comes alongside stubborn concerns about academic proficiency. Many districts still report reading and math performance that has not fully returned to pre-pandemic levels. The Minnesota Department of Education has described the graduation gains as encouraging while simultaneously calling for continued investment in literacy initiatives, mental-health supports, and career pathways that can boost long-term achievement.
In a prior graduation-trends release, the agency spelled out both the progress and the persistent gaps policy makers still need to tackle, and it points readers to the state’s data tools for a deeper dive into the numbers (MDE).
How to check your school
If you want to know how your own school or district stacked up, start with the district’s report card online or look for local coverage that adds context. Many district offices publish their own breakdowns, outlining which programs they credit for recent gains and where they plan to focus next. A quick scan of those reports can tell you whether the statewide trend lines match what is happening in your neighborhood halls and gymnasiums.
