Connecticut’s class of 2025 graduated at the highest rate in at least a decade, according to new state data
Nearly all eligible high school students took a college-level course, and about half passed one or earned college credit
Chronic absenteeism fell to its lowest point since the pandemic, though test performance and college enrollment remained short of pre-pandemic levels and state targets
Connecticut high school students are graduating at the highest rate seen in at least a decade and taking and passing college preparatory courses at rates significantly higher than in the past decade, according to new data published by the state.
The state’s Next Generation Accountability Dashboard, which tracks 12 indicators across state educational systems that track student preparedness for college, career and life, recently revealed that the graduating class of 2025 saw a 91.2% four-year graduation rate for students, the highest number seen in the last decade.
The previous peak seen for high school graduation was 89.6%.
Additionally, 94.1% of high school students eligible to take college-level courses took at least one such class, with 49.9% of students passing at least one college-level course or earning college credits.
New statistics revealed additional gains, including current high schoolers having an “on-track” rate of 87.7% of students being on pace to graduate, the highest seen since the pandemic impacted state education; and 56.4% of students having access to arts courses, the closest in the last decade to the state’s target of 60%.
The state’s performance index, which measures average student performance in English language arts, mathematics and science, remained below pre-pandemic levels in all three subjects. But scores rose steadily, and all three reached their highest levels since the 2019-20 school year.
Chronic absenteeism also fell to its lowest rate since the pandemic. Among all students, chronic absenteeism dropped from 23.7% in 2021-22 to 16.4% in 2025-26.
Postsecondary enrollment remained below the state’s 75% target, which Connecticut has not reached in the last decade. This year’s rate of 67.4% was the second-highest since the 2019-20 school year.
By Joe O’Leary
