Minnesota sets record-high graduation rate in 2025, data shows

Minnesota's high school graduation rate in 2025 was the highest in state history, according to data collated by the state's department of education.

It was the second year in a row that the state saw record high levels. In 2024, Minnesota's four-year graduation rate was 84.2%, and in 2025, it was 84.9%.

The data released Friday shows that 90.1% of Asian students graduated, compared to 89.9% of White students, 76.4% of Black students, 72.4% of Hispanic or Latino students and 67.6% of American Indian students. The data also points to Asian, Black, American Indian and Hispanic or Latino students showing greater year-to-year growth than their White counterparts.

Department of Education Commissioner Willie Jett credited the growth to an overall increase in emotional engagement from students.

"I believe there's an increase in student reporting that they believe their teachers and others in their lives care about them," he said. 

Students have also increasingly reported that an adult had connected with them about their post-secondary plans, Jett added.

For American Indian students — whose graduation rate increased by 4.8 percentage points between 2024 and 2025 and 9 percentage points from 2021 to 2025 — Jett attributed the growth in part to including Indigenous history and culture in the high school curriculum.

Groups that saw a year-to-year decline included English learners, migrants and students in foster care, though those groups have seen overall growth in the last four years, data shows.

Gov. Tim Walz said the record high graduation rate was a "moment worth celebrating."

Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan said the progress among Native students is "meaningful and long overdue."

"This represents real momentum and reflects intentional investments in education. While we celebrate this progress, we remain committed to continuing this work until every student has the support and opportunity to graduate and thrive," she said.