WBLAHS sees continued positive graduation rate trend

The district’s most recent 4-year graduation rate, released by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) this week, shows the district’s rate tops the state’s graduation rate by almost eight percentage points, with 91.3% of 2021 seniors earning their diploma within four years in White Bear Lake Area Schools. The graduation rate at White Bear Lake Area High School - South Campus, which does not include students from the district’s Area Learning Center (ALC) or Transition Education Center (TEC) programs, rose to 97.0%. The state’s four-year graduation rate for the class was 83.3%, which represents a 0.5 percentage point decrease compared to the class of 2020.

“Despite the adversities our students faced as they approached graduation, they rose to the challenge and earned their diplomas at a rate that far exceeds the Minnesota graduation rate and is the highest rate the district has seen in nearly a decade” said Superintendent Wayne Kazmierczak. “We are proud of the efforts our graduates put into their learning day in and day out. It paid off.”

Nearly all student groups made gains in White Bear. The largest increases from 2020 were seen in the areas of Hispanic Students, with a gain of 12.9 percentage points, and for those in Special Education, which rose 6.6 percentage points. Other student groups that saw increases were: English Learners (3.8 increase), Students who identify as Two or More Races (3.2 increase), Students who qualify for Free-Reduced Priced Meals (1.8 increase), Black Students (1.1 increase), and White Students (0.1 increase). A 2.3 percentage point decrease was seen in the graduation rate of our Asian Students. MDE does not report graduation percentages for student populations of fewer than 20 students; therefore, our Native American and Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian Student groups are not available as distinct student groups but are included in overall district and building data.

The district topped the state average in all areas, with rates 16 percentage points or more above the state average in the following student groups: Black (89.2% compared to 70.4% state average), Hispanic (89.1% compared to 69.3% state average), English Learner (89.5% to 64.7% state average), and those in Special Education (80.4% to 64.0% state average).

The numbers are even more positive at White Bear Lake Area High School - South Campus specifically, where 97.0% of the Class of 2021 graduated within four years. Notably, 100% of those in the student groups of Black, Hispanic, Two or More Races, and English Learners graduated.

WBLAHS - South Campus’ graduation rate (97.0%) compares very favorably to other area high schools: Irondale High School (97.5%), Mahtomedi High School (97.2%), Centennial High School (95.9%), Mounds View High School (95.6%), Woodbury High School (95.1%), Stillwater High School (94.9%), East Ridge High School (94.9%), Roseville Area High School (91.2%), Forest Lake Area High School (89.4%), Tartan High School (87.6%), Spring Lake Park High School (79.6%), and North High School (75.5%). 

“We are encouraged with positive trends we are seeing amongst our student groups, with our graduation rate at WBLAHS - South Campus putting us in the top tier of not only the northeast metro, but the entire metro area,” said Superintendent Wayne Kazmierczak. “We will continue to build a supportive community that helps each of our students both learn and thrive.”

*Does not include students from ALC or TEC

**MDE does not report graduation percentages for student populations of fewer than 20 students