Four in five Salem seniors in the Class of 2025 earned a high school diploma, a number that’s been essentially flat for the past four years.

New Oregon Department of Education data released Thursday shows 2,772 seniors in the Salem-Keizer School District graduated last year. That gave the district a 79.7% graduation rate.

It’s a slight increase over last year’s figure of 79.4% graduation. 

But the district remains below the state average, and below a school board target of 82.8% graduation for 2025. Hitting that would have required 98 more seniors to graduate.

“These graduation gains reflect our steady commitment to keeping students at the center of every decision we make,” said Cynthia Richardson, school board chair, in a statement.  “There is still work to do, so in a district as diverse as Salem-Keizer, progress means ensuring more students—across all backgrounds and circumstances—are supported, seen, and able to reach the finish line and be successful.”

District leaders weren’t available immediately after the data release to discuss Salem-Keizer’s graduation rates, spokesman Aaron Harada said.

Students in Oregon must complete 24 credits to earn a high school diploma, a higher number than in most other states. 

Oregon previously required students to demonstrate “proficiency” in reading, writing and math through standardized tests or work samples. But the state board of education suspended those requirements during the Covid pandemic. They remain suspended through 2028.

State tests in the spring showed two in three Salem-Keizer high school juniors were below grade level in reading and writing. In math, just 10% were proficient.

High school numbers are considered a less reliable indicator of academic performance because a significant number of students choose not to take the tests. Superintendent Andrea Castañeda has previously said those who opt out are often high-achieving students who are preparing for demanding exams in college-level courses.

Graduation rates at individual high schools changed slightly, with an increase at McKay and drops at South and McNary. But in general, Salem’s high schools remained about where they have been over the past five years.

Graduation rates remained about flat for white and Latino students, who together make up the vast majority of the Class of 2025.

It’s common for graduation rates to fluctuate more among smaller racial or ethnic groups because a few additional students earning a diploma can significantly change the percentage.

But the numbers show the graduation rate for Black students fell to 74% after a significant increase last year. Rates for Pacific Islander and Native American students also fell.

State data continues to show success for students who are not native English speakers, but became fluent before high school. That group had among the highest graduation rates in Salem, at 87%. 

That’s long been a point of pride for district leaders, who see it as evidence of the success of Salem-Keizer’s large dual language program for Spanish-speaking students.

Some 135 students in the Class of 2025 earned a GED or extended diploma. 

Another 544 students dropped out of school last year — an increase of about 20 students from 2024.

Pregnant and parenting teenagers had the highest dropout rate of any group. Nearly one in three left school.

Four other groups of students had dropout rates above 10%: homeless students, those in foster care, students who were or had been incarcerated and Native American students.

Salem Reporter will publish a more in-depth look at graduation and dropout data next week. What would you like to know? Send your thoughts to [email protected].

Contact Managing Editor Rachel Alexander: [email protected] or 503-575-1241.

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