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Bemidji reports 2024 graduation rate below state average; district cites data and program updates
Summary
Minnesota Department of Education data released to the board show the Bemidji School District four‑year graduation rate at 74.8% versus a statewide 84.2%; administrators said new alternative-program changes and improved student tracking should help future rates.
Colleen presented Minnesota Department of Education 2024 graduation figures to the Bemidji Area Schools board on May 19, reporting a districtwide four‑year graduation rate of 74.8% compared with the state rate of 84.2%. Bemidji High School’s rate was reported at 80.6%.
Colleen highlighted subgroup results: special education 61.8% (down from 63.9), free-and-reduced students 60.6% (slight decline), and American Indian students up from 52% to 53.1%. She said the district will analyze where students leave the system because unverified transfers (for example, a student moving out of state) can be counted as dropouts unless the district documents the new enrollment.
Board members and administrators said the data reflect 2024 conditions and that the district has already implemented changes, including a seat‑based alternative program, aimed at improving outcomes. "While you're seeing old data, there has been new change as well," a board member said, adding that improved data collection and system‑wide efforts beginning earlier than high school are priorities.
Administrators noted preliminary internal data on reworked alternative programs is encouraging but not final. No formal policy action was taken at the meeting; trustees asked staff to continue analysis and return with follow‑up information.
