Springfield four‑year graduation rate rises to 82.0%; dropout rate falls to 3.3%

Springfield Public Schools reported gains in its most recent accountability indicators: the district four‑year graduation rate rose to 82.0% for the class of 2025, up from 78.6% the year prior, and the one‑year high‑school dropout rate declined to 3.3%.

Bob St. Lawrence and Alisa, the district’s strategic data administrator, presented four‑year and five‑year trend charts and subgroup breakdowns. "The district increased from 78.6 to 82.0, a very significant increase," the presenter said, and noted this cohort benefited from legislative changes that eliminated a barrier (the MCAS graduation requirement) for that class. The presenters emphasized subgroup progress: gaps with state graduation rates narrowed substantially for African‑American and Hispanic students and were near parity for low‑income students; however, exceptional learners continue to show a pronounced gap in both graduation and dropout indicators.

St. Lawrence highlighted school‑level changes—including a 6.4 percentage‑point improvement at Central High and a 100% rate at the Conservatory for the 2025 cohort—and cautioned that very small cohorts can skew school‑level percentages. Committee members praised the upward trend and urged continued focus on supports for exceptional learners.

District staff said they will continue monitoring results and provide follow‑up data where small cohorts affect rates.