AL: 2019 Graduation Rate Tops Nationwide List, Though Gap in Preparedness Persists
March 22, 2021
Alabama’s graduation rate continued its years-long climb for the Class of 2019, achieving the nation’s highest graduation rate and beating the national average by nearly 6 percentage points. State education officials both celebrated and expressed caution after the data was announced, with Alabama Department of Education Communications Director Michael Sibley underscoring a gap that exists between the state’s graduation rate and the number of graduates that are considered college or career ready. Data from the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama additionally shows a decline in the number of students pursuing two- or four-year degree programs after graduation.