Wichita Public Schools reports 84.3% graduation rate for Class of 2024, cites targeted programs and subgroup gains

Wichita Public Schools officials on Tuesday told the City Council that the district’s graduation rate rose to 84.3% for the Class of 2024, a 5.1 percentage‑point increase from the class of 2023 and a 21.2 percentage‑point gain since February 2010.

“Now, we put a little asterisk by the 2020 because that was when the pandemic came,” Deputy Superintendent Gil Alvarez said, explaining cohort formulas and changes in state measurement. “But to see them persevere, to see the resiliency, to be able to get to an 84.3% was extremely amazing.”

The district framed the improvement as the product of an intentional strategy in its strategic plan that focuses on raising academic achievement and graduation rates, preparing students for life and improving safety and belonging. Lauren Hatfield, assistant superintendent of secondary schools, said the district recorded its highest-ever subgroup rates in 24 of 36 state-counted subgroups, including increases for students who qualify for free lunch, students with disabilities, virtual students and foster youth.

“Females are outperforming males in every single subgroup where there is a male and female breakdown,” Hatfield said. “That is not just a Wichita Public Schools trend. That is a national trend.” Hatfield said the improvement strategy blended innovative programming — including Future Ready Centers, Gap (Graduation Advocacy Program), night school, mentoring and career-focused centers — with “data quality improvements” and early intervention to identify students off track as early as ninth grade.

Officials said mentoring programs played a notable role: district presenters linked higher graduation outcomes for students engaged in mentoring and said many programs are school‑based or community partnerships. The district reported roughly 13,000 high school students and about 47,000 students systemwide; more than 80% of students qualify for free or reduced‑price lunch.

Council members pressed staff on supports for homeless and foster students. Hatfield described the district’s McKinney‑Vento services for homeless students, which allow students to remain at their current school and provide transportation and other supports, and a transitions program for foster and highly mobile students that aims to provide stability and tailored instruction.

“I don't have the number of homeless students in front of me, but we can certainly look that up and get that to you,” Hatfield said, noting that the district has “30 plus group home beds” just within one attendance area.

The district set a SMART goal to reach an 85% graduation rate by 2029; Alvarez said the district hopes to accelerate that timeline based on recent gains. Council members thanked district staff and encouraged continued community mentoring partnerships.

District officials said subgroup breakout tables and a handout with detailed data are posted on the Wichita Public Schools website. Alvarez and Hatfield said they were available for follow‑up questions and to provide subgroup files to council members.

The presentation was informational; no council action was required or taken on the item.