Minnesota Department of Education releases Class of 2024 graduation rates
The four-year graduation rate for Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools District 196 students remained stable in 2024, at 88.1%, which was four percentage points higher than the statewide rate of 84.2%, according to graduation data released by the Minnesota Department of Education on May 7, 2025. Graduation rates for all demographic groups within District 196 also exceed state averages for each group, although gaps persist between the graduation rates for White students and other groups of students.
Of the 2,368 District 196 seniors included in the 2024 graduation data, 2,087 (88.1%) graduated in four years. Students short on credits at graduation in May are encouraged and supported to persist in completing their high school diploma. Those who complete credits during summer school and before the next school year starts in late August are counted with their graduating class. Students needing to continue their schooling have three options: Adult Basic Education (ABE) Diploma Program, Rosemount Area Learning Center, or Transition Plus.
“The Class of 2024 entered high school in fall 2020, at the pandemic's peak. They overcame the disruption and persisted toward graduation,” said Eric Hansen, director of secondary education. “We celebrate them and want to thank every educator and family who stood with these graduates, providing encouragement and support.”
“We have high expectations in District 196 and require more credits to graduate than the state requires,” Hanson continued. “So, if students get behind on credits, we want to work with them immediately to make up the work through evening or summer credit recovery programs. We also intentionally watch attendance and credit completion data each trimester, so students who fail a course can retake it and remain on track to graduate.”
The state goal is for all school districts to have a graduation rate of at least 90% for all students and at least 85% for each subgroup of students. In 2024, the District 196 graduation rate exceeded the state average for each student subgroup.
| Demographic Groups | District 196 | State |
| American Indian/Alaskan Native students | 74.5% | 62.9% |
| Asian students | 91.3% | 88.1% |
| Black students | 83.5% | 73.9% |
| Hispanic students | 78.0% | 71.7% |
| White students | 92.3% | 89.3% |
| Students who are of two or more races | 81.6% | 80.1% |
In Minnesota, students have a right to continue their education through graduation or age 21, and some students have a right to receive special education services until their 22nd birthday. Therefore, the state also reports a 7-year graduation rate. The 2024 District 196 7-year graduation rate was 93.0%, which includes all students who entered high school in 2017 and completed their high school diploma in 2021, 2022, 2023, or 2024. In District 196, approximately 135 students are enrolled in our Transitions Plus program; 55 are enrolled in ABE, and 199 are enrolled in the ALC.
NOTE: The state graduation report is released 11 months after graduation, which is awkward timing, as schools are already looking forward to the Class of 2025 graduation ceremonies being held later this month.