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Wichita Public Schools reports federal graduation rate of 85.1% for Class of 2025
Summary
District officials told the school board that the federal graduation rate for the Class of 2025 was 85.1%, and the new state calculation (86.3%) raises the number by excluding certain student categories; staff credited mentoring, night school and an on‑track dashboard for gains across most subgroups.
Wichita Public Schools reported that the district’s federal graduation rate for the Class of 2025 is 85.1%, the board heard at its Jan. 12 meeting. Presenter (district staff) said that the state’s new calculation — enacted in Senate Bill 45 — produces an 86.3% “state” rate by excluding students who transfer to homeschool, non‑accredited schools or who were credit‑deficient when they entered the district.
The presentation noted broad subgroup gains: district staff said 24 of 34 reportable subgroups hit their highest‑ever graduation rates in 2025, with notable increases among students on free or reduced lunch and students with disabilities. The district highlighted specific tools it credited for the result: an “on‑track for graduation” dashboard to identify at‑risk seniors, expanded student mentoring funded with school improvement and at‑risk dollars, targeted night‑school programs at Chester Lewis that raised alternative‑setting graduation outcomes, and a system for early identification and individualized plans.
“An 85.1% federal rate is the highest graduation rate Wichita Public Schools has ever had,” the presenter said, adding that 82.7% was the district’s highest male rate and that multiple racial and demographic groups set record highs. The presenter also noted that the state calculation raises the rate by about 1.2 percentage points (roughly 35–40 students) because the state method removes certain transfers and credit‑deficient students from the denominator.
Board members asked how the district will sustain the gains and whether the figures are auditable. District staff said an external audit and new board policy (No. 6336) on data audit were put in place; staff said they have completed an external audit that validated the Class of 2025 numbers and described steps to tighten data controls and create a digital trail for approvals.
Next steps the board was told include rewriting the strategic plan goal for graduation now that the district has met its previous target, continuing rollout of the on‑track dashboard, and regular monitoring of subgroup performance. Board members asked staff to return in the spring with proposed next targets and implementation details.
