• Lincoln County School District No. 2 remains among the ranks of Wyoming districts that consistently experience a graduation rate over 90 percent
The Wyoming Department of Education announced in a January press release that on-time graduation rates from Wyoming public high schools have remained above 80 percent since the 2015-2016 school year. Since then, the four-year on-time high school graduation rate remained relatively consistent with 6,344 graduates earning their diplomas in 2023-24, offering a state-wide graduation rate of 81.6 percent.
“I am proud to report that graduation rates have remained steady through the COVID pandemic and continue to trend upwards in Wyoming. The increase in four-year on-time graduation rates across the state, particularly among Native American students and at alternative high schools, shows immense dedication from students and staff,” said Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder in the release.
The press release further explained that over the past 14 years, the WDE has calculated graduation rates using the Federal Four-Year Adjusted Cohort Methodology established in 2009 by the U.S. Department of Education. “Students are counted in the four-year, ‘on-time,’ high school graduation rate if they earn a diploma by September 15 following their [graduating class’s] fourth year.” Data does not include homeschool transfer students.
Degenfelder indicated through the release that the WDE is in the process of evaluating the accuracy of the Federal Four-Year Adjusted Cohort Methodology for Wyoming schools, considering increased offerings of school choice, and educational movement within the state. “I am committed to hearing all voices on this topic and will convene a working group of district superintendents, principals, and other stakeholders to evaluate and update our calculation method.”
Lincoln County School District No. 2 remains among the ranks of Wyoming districts that consistently experience a graduation rate over 90 percent.
“Cokeville Schools had a 100 percent graduation rate again last year,” said Kenneth Dietz, who serves as Principal of Cokeville Schools in an email to SVI Media last week. “We are grateful to our graduates for all their hard work and dedication. We are also grateful and recognize the hard work and dedication of the staff [who support] Cokeville School graduates from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Countless hours have gone into instruction and activities students participate in. Each student had many adults who made a difference in their life.”
“We are thrilled to have a 90 percent graduation rate,” said Farren Haderlie, Principal at Star Valley High School, in an email to SVI Media last week. “This truly reflects on the great community we live in and how parents support us in so many ways. We feel that [extra-curricular activities facilitate] our students’ success. Our students who are involved in activities at SVHS carry an average of a 3.58 GPA while those who are not involved carry a 1.70. As always, the magic is in the teacher/student relationship. There is so much research to support that teachers working together for students has the greatest impact.”
