Kentwood High School had the highest graduation rate in the Kent School District for the Class of 2020 at 92.2%.
The rate reflects the percentage of students who started the ninth grade at the same time and graduated four years later.
Kentlake was next at 91.9% followed by Kent Mountain View Academy, 90.3%; Kentridge, 89.7%; Kent-Meridian, 81.6%; and Kent Phoenix Academy, 69.4%. All high schools combined in the district had a rate of 87.8%, according to data released Dec. 17 by the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
The Kent School District’s overall rate is a 3.8% increase from the 2019 graduation rate, and an 8.1% increase from the 2015 graduation rate, according to the district. Graduation rates districtwide have risen for four consecutive years.
In 2019, Kentwood had a graduation rate of 92.4%. Kentridge was next at 88.6% while Kentlake was at 82.3% and Kent-Meridian at 77.6 percent.
The four-year graduation rate reached 82.9% in the state, an all-time high and a two-percentage point increase over 2019.
“The Class of 2020 completed their senior year in a manner unlike all of the graduating classes before them,” said state Superintendent Chris Reykdal in reference to schools going to remote learning in March due to COVID-19. “I’m proud of the way our educators, school staff and families came together to support our seniors in reaching the finish line despite the challenges they faced.”
To help students reach graduation in 2020 despite the challenges caused by the pandemic, the state Board of Education made emergency credit waivers available for students who were demonstrably on track towards graduation when school buildings were closed due to COVID-19.
The Class of 2020 were also the first to have a “graduation pathway” requirement, where students demonstrate their readiness for a meaningful next step after high school. There was some flexibility in that requirement for Class of 2020 students as well, as they could use the Expedited Assessment Appeal, which allows students to waive assessment graduation requirements in English language arts (ELA) and/or mathematics by demonstrating that they’ve attained the skills to meet high school standards and achieve their college and career goals.
Graduation rates can be viewed for the state, by school district, or by school on the state Report Card online on the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction website.
Local district 2020 graduation rates
Tahoma: 92.2%
Federal Way: 88.2%
Kent: 87.8%
Auburn: 86.3%
Highline: 83.8%
Renton: 82.0%
Source: state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to correct Kentlake’s score and ranking in the 2020 graduation rates among Kent schools.
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