Racial Equity
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group

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High School Cohort Graduation Rate, by Student Group, 2021

What does this measure?

The number of students graduating after four years of high school, expressed as a percentage of their cohort. A cohort is a class of ninth-graders beginning high school in the same academic year.

Why is this important?

High school graduation is the culmination of a successful K-12 education and the gateway to college or employment. Students who do not graduate face the prospect of unemployment or low-paying jobs. There are persistent gaps in academic achievement among students of different races, ethnicities and incomes.

How is our region doing?

In 2021, 92% of the 2017 cohort graduated in MetroWest, a bit higher than the state rate (90%). This was an increase of 6 percentage points since 2006 for the region, compared to a gain of 10 points for the state. Twenty-four districts in the region had graduation rates of 95% or higher, with Harvard reporting 100% and Hopkinton 99%. Four districts had graduation rates below 90%: Milford (86%), Maynard (88%), Framingham (89%) and Hudson (89%).

Students in the region from low-income backgrounds graduated at a lower rate, 83% in 2021. While 97% of Asian students and 93% of white students in the 2017 cohort graduated in 2021, rates were somewhat lower among African American and Hispanic students (89% and 83%, respectively). Massachusetts had similar disparities, but low-income, African American and Hispanic students graduated at higher rates in MetroWest than at the state level.

Since 2006 in the region, cohort graduation rates for Hispanic students increased the most (up 15 points), followed by low-income students (up 12 points). Rates for African American and Asian students also improved (up 11 and 6 points), while white students made smaller gains (5 points).

Why do these disparities exist?

Studies point to a variety of factors believed to contribute to disparities in graduation rates and other measures of student achievement. School systems in the United States are highly segregated, and students of color disproportionately attend schools with high proportions of low-income students who may not have benefited from early learning opportunities at the same rate as other students. Schools also have different levels of resources ranging from qualified/experienced teachers to advanced courses to facilities and technology, and schools with large Black and Latino populations often have lower levels. In addition, teachers across all school systems tend to be disproportionately white, and teaching practices and curriculum may not be culturally relevant to students of color.

Notes about the data

Students are included in the cohort based on the year they entered Grade 9. Students are transferred in or out of cohorts if they transfer schools. Students who earn a GED or Certificate of Attainment are not counted as graduates. Students are considered economically disadvantaged if their family participates in one or more of the following state-administered programs: the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); the Transitional Assistance for Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC); the Department of Children and Families' (DCF) foster care program; or MassHealth (Medicaid).

High School Cohort Graduation Rate, by Student Group, 2021
All StudentsAsianBlack or African AmericanHispanic or LatinoLow IncomeWhite
Massachusetts90%96%84%80%82%93%
Region92%97%89%83%83%93%
Middlesex County93%97%89%82%84%95%
Norfolk County91%96%87%79%80%93%
Worcester County91%98%91%84%84%92%
Acton-Boxborough School District97%100%100%100%88%95%
Ashland School District97%100%100%85%91%98%
Bedford School District96%100%92%100%86%94%
Bellingham School District94%71%92%94%
Concord-Carlisle School District98%96%100%100%100%98%
Dedham School District92%100%94%79%81%94%
Dover-Sherborn School District96%93%100%96%
Foxborough Regional Charter97%91%100%100%96%
Framingham School District85%94%86%73%78%89%
Francis W. Parker Charter Essential92%80%91%
Franklin School District95%100%100%82%83%96%
Harvard School District99%100%90%100%
Holliston School District94%100%50%70%95%
Hopkinton School District99%100%100%97%99%
Hudson School District83%46%64%89%
Innovation Academy Charter89%88%100%90%84%87%
Lexington School District97%99%93%96%92%96%
Lincoln-Sudbury School District97%100%100%83%83%97%
Littleton School District95%100%86%94%
Marlborough School District86%78%82%82%92%
Maynard School District85%56%88%
Medfield School District97%100%86%96%
Medway School District97%100%100%87%96%
Milford School District82%79%71%73%86%
Millis School District96%100%100%88%95%
Nashoba School District96%100%88%96%
Natick School District95%100%91%84%84%96%
Needham School District97%100%75%100%88%98%
Walpole School District94%100%90%89%82%94%
Waltham School District82%91%85%72%77%90%
Wayland School District98%100%100%100%100%97%
Wellesley School District97%100%83%93%86%97%
Westborough School District97%100%89%87%88%98%
Westford School District97%98%91%87%97%
Weston School District98%100%100%100%94%97%
Westwood School District98%100%100%100%84%98%

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
Notes: Years denote 12th grade year for cohort.




Number of Students Graduating from High School, by Student Group, 2021
All StudentsAsianBlack or African AmericanHispanic or LatinoLow IncomeWhite
Massachusetts66,6554,8215,77011,86127,66441,954
Region32,2963,3312,0404,06210,81121,372
Middlesex County15,7551,9409622,0304,96310,125
Norfolk County7,6148845885052,0955,302
Worcester County8,9275074901,5273,7545,946
Acton-Boxborough School District427143111953229
Ashland School District2102162252150
Bedford School District18117122536116
Bellingham School District151547131
Concord-Carlisle School District30927141431242
Dedham School District1736152256124
Dover-Sherborn School District1691420141
Foxborough Regional Charter6310241722
Framingham School District5213043114258316
Francis W. Parker Charter Essential55850
Franklin School District4393391460372
Harvard School District9813976
Holliston School District19215319168
Hopkinton School District327441132264
Hudson School District1431045128
Innovation Academy Charter8771192159
Lexington School District527201142473253
Lincoln-Sudbury School District37830142040307
Littleton School District10610688
Marlborough School District2477125138107
Maynard School District73967
Medfield School District194925170
Medway School District15313926127
Milford School District2531162120159
Millis School District88662173
Nashoba School District230929211
Natick School District39321102766311
Needham School District4193661942342
Walpole School District2651591653217
Waltham School District3601946132197155
Wayland School District22840111023152
Wellesley School District37852101436280
Westborough School District3107482060198
Westford School District4371021048299
Weston School District164296817110
Westwood School District2412071021204

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
Notes: Years denote 12th grade year for cohort.




High School Cohort Graduation Rate, by Student Group, 2006
All StudentsAsianBlack or African AmericanHispanic or LatinoLow IncomeWhite
Massachusetts80%84%64%57%62%85%
Region86%87%78%67%71%88%
Middlesex County88%86%81%74%76%90%
Norfolk County89%91%77%71%76%90%
Worcester County81%82%69%57%64%85%
Acton-Boxborough School District95%100%100%88%95%
Ashland School District96%90%100%96%
Bedford School District88%95%85%81%88%
Bellingham School District92%75%92%
Concord-Carlisle School District96%100%100%100%100%96%
Dedham School District86%64%75%71%88%
Dover-Sherborn School District98%97%
Foxborough Regional Charter85%82%
Framingham School District86%91%78%70%76%90%
Francis W. Parker Charter Essential97%100%97%
Franklin School District91%100%70%92%
Harvard School District97%96%
Holliston School District94%93%
Hopkinton School District95%95%
Hudson School District80%75%50%81%
Lexington School District93%95%94%92%86%92%
Lincoln-Sudbury School District95%100%91%94%95%
Littleton School District92%83%94%
Marlborough School District79%100%80%63%67%82%
Maynard School District93%58%92%
Medfield School District96%96%
Medway School District94%100%100%94%
Milford School District83%67%48%58%88%
Millis School District93%89%94%
Nashoba School District91%81%71%92%
Natick School District95%100%91%80%74%96%
Needham School District93%88%92%86%90%93%
Walpole School District91%55%58%93%
Waltham School District89%100%74%78%84%93%
Wayland School District97%96%100%100%100%97%
Wellesley School District96%100%87%82%94%97%
Westborough School District92%96%70%90%68%93%
Westford School District95%100%84%95%
Weston School District99%100%100%100%98%
Westwood School District97%100%100%100%97%

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
Notes: Years denote 12th grade year for cohort.




Number of Students Graduating from High School, by Student Group, 2006
All StudentsAsianBlack or African AmericanHispanic or LatinoLow IncomeWhite
Massachusetts59,4302,7184,2804,77615,14246,868
Region28,7041,6641,3921,6765,43623,260
Middlesex County14,1111,0177899512,78811,049
Norfolk County6,5894073591348605,527
Worcester County8,0042402445911,7886,684
Acton-Boxborough School District42856715362
Ashland School District159917141
Bedford School District173191117142
Bellingham School District18915178
Concord-Carlisle School District315718915270
Dedham School District16171224136
Dover-Sherborn School District118114
Foxborough Regional Charter1714
Framingham School District456214051133343
Francis W. Parker Charter Essential58857
Franklin School District335916318
Harvard School District8981
Holliston School District207195
Hopkinton School District223219
Hudson School District167619159
Lexington School District42979161118323
Lincoln-Sudbury School District333201915288
Littleton School District1035100
Marlborough School District219983541166
Maynard School District62759
Medfield School District178174
Medway School District179610166
Milford School District23641436214
Millis School District75875
Nashoba School District2061312185
Natick School District30712101229263
Needham School District32171269285
Walpole School District232611222
Waltham School District30215265896191
Wayland School District21222999171
Wellesley School District2852213917232
Westborough School District253277915208
Westford School District3402716307
Weston School District1531788119
Westwood School District188968170

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
Notes: Years denote 12th grade year for cohort.




INDICATORS
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity
Children Living in Poverty
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity
Single-Parent Families
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity
Disengaged Youth
Reports of Domestic Violence
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments
Households Without Vehicles
Means of Transportation to Work
Households With Internet Access
Voter Participation Rate
Average Charitable Contribution
People Without Health Insurance
Drug Poisoning Mortality Rate
Crimes Against People
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity
Change in Total Population
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity
Foreign-Born Population
Language Diversity
Population by Age
Change in Population by Age/Gender
Seniors Living Alone
People with Disabilities
Change in Total Jobs by Sector
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity
Unemployment Rate
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity
Average Salary by Sector
High-Tech Jobs
Female to Male Earnings Ratio
Prekindergarten Participation
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group
School Spending Per Student
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group
Chronically Absent Students
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group
Education Levels of Adults
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity
People Living in Poverty
People Living in Poverty, by Education Level
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity
Households Receiving Temporary Assistance
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity
Median Household Income
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity
Living Wage
80/20 Income Ratio
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity
Homeownership Rates
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity
Cost of Homeownership
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity
Cost of Rent
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity
Homelessness
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity


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