Research
How many students graduate high school in four years, by state 86.6% of the 3,838,338 students in the U.S. public high school class of 2023 earned a regular diploma within four years, weighting each state's rate by its class size. West Virginia had the highest four-year rate (92.6%) and New Mexico the lowest (76.5%); the District of Columbia's was 76.5%.
U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts 2022-23 · four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rate, all students · this page first published 2026-09-29 · data checked 2026-09-29 · method
U.S., weighted by class size 86.6% 50 states measured
Highest rates 92.6% West Virginia
Lowest rates 76.5% New Mexico
Four-year graduation rate, class of 2023 by state AK 78%; AL 90%; AR 90%; AZ 78%; CA 86%; CO 83%; CT 88%; DC 77%; DE 89%; FL 88%; GA 84%; HI 86%; IA 88%; ID 81%; IL 88%; IN 88%; KS 88%; KY 91%; LA 83%; MA 89%; MD 86%; ME 87%; MI 82%; MN 83%; MO 89%; MS 89%; MT 86%; NC 87%; ND 83%; NE 87%; NH 88%; NJ 91%; NM 77%; NV 81%; NY 87%; OH 86%; OK 81%; OR 81%; PA 88%; RI 84%; SC 84%; SD 84%; TN 87%; TX 90%; UT 88%; VA 89%; VT 82%; WA 84%; WI 91%; WV 93%; WY 81% AK: 78% AK 78% ME: 87% ME 87% WI: 91% WI 91% VT: 82% VT 82% NH: 88% NH 88% WA: 84% WA 84% ID: 81% ID 81% MT: 86% MT 86% ND: 83% ND 83% MN: 83% MN 83% IL: 88% IL 88% MI: 82% MI 82% NY: 87% NY 87% MA: 89% MA 89% OR: 81% OR 81% NV: 81% NV 81% WY: 81% WY 81% SD: 84% SD 84% IA: 88% IA 88% IN: 88% IN 88% OH: 86% OH 86% PA: 88% PA 88% NJ: 91% NJ 91% CT: 88% CT 88% RI: 84% RI 84% CA: 86% CA 86% UT: 88% UT 88% CO: 83% CO 83% NE: 87% NE 87% MO: 89% MO 89% KY: 91% KY 91% WV: 93% WV 93% VA: 89% VA 89% MD: 86% MD 86% DE: 89% DE 89% AZ: 78% AZ 78% NM: 77% NM 77% KS: 88% KS 88% AR: 90% AR 90% TN: 87% TN 87% NC: 87% NC 87% SC: 84% SC 84% DC: 77% DC 77% OK: 81% OK 81% LA: 83% LA 83% MS: 89% MS 89% AL: 90% AL 90% GA: 84% GA 84% HI: 86% HI 86% TX: 90% TX 90% FL: 88% FL 88%
Four-year graduation rate, class of 2023 by state AK 78%; AL 90%; AR 90%; AZ 78%; CA 86%; CO 83%; CT 88%; DC 77%; DE 89%; FL 88%; GA 84%; HI 86%; IA 88%; ID 81%; IL 88%; IN 88%; KS 88%; KY 91%; LA 83%; MA 89%; MD 86%; ME 87%; MI 82%; MN 83%; MO 89%; MS 89%; MT 86%; NC 87%; ND 83%; NE 87%; NH 88%; NJ 91%; NM 77%; NV 81%; NY 87%; OH 86%; OK 81%; OR 81%; PA 88%; RI 84%; SC 84%; SD 84%; TN 87%; TX 90%; UT 88%; VA 89%; VT 82%; WA 84%; WI 91%; WV 93%; WY 81% AK: 78% AK 78% ME: 87% ME 87% WI: 91% WI 91% VT: 82% VT 82% NH: 88% NH 88% WA: 84% WA 84% ID: 81% ID 81% MT: 86% MT 86% ND: 83% ND 83% MN: 83% MN 83% IL: 88% IL 88% MI: 82% MI 82% NY: 87% NY 87% MA: 89% MA 89% OR: 81% OR 81% NV: 81% NV 81% WY: 81% WY 81% SD: 84% SD 84% IA: 88% IA 88% IN: 88% IN 88% OH: 86% OH 86% PA: 88% PA 88% NJ: 91% NJ 91% CT: 88% CT 88% RI: 84% RI 84% CA: 86% CA 86% UT: 88% UT 88% CO: 83% CO 83% NE: 87% NE 87% MO: 89% MO 89% KY: 91% KY 91% WV: 93% WV 93% VA: 89% VA 89% MD: 86% MD 86% DE: 89% DE 89% AZ: 78% AZ 78% NM: 77% NM 77% KS: 88% KS 88% AR: 90% AR 90% TN: 87% TN 87% NC: 87% NC 87% SC: 84% SC 84% DC: 77% DC 77% OK: 81% OK 81% LA: 83% LA 83% MS: 89% MS 89% AL: 90% AL 90% GA: 84% GA 84% HI: 86% HI 86% TX: 90% TX 90% FL: 88% FL 88%
Four-year graduation rate, class of 2023 by state AK 78%; AL 90%; AR 90%; AZ 78%; CA 86%; CO 83%; CT 88%; DC 77%; DE 89%; FL 88%; GA 84%; HI 86%; IA 88%; ID 81%; IL 88%; IN 88%; KS 88%; KY 91%; LA 83%; MA 89%; MD 86%; ME 87%; MI 82%; MN 83%; MO 89%; MS 89%; MT 86%; NC 87%; ND 83%; NE 87%; NH 88%; NJ 91%; NM 77%; NV 81%; NY 87%; OH 86%; OK 81%; OR 81%; PA 88%; RI 84%; SC 84%; SD 84%; TN 87%; TX 90%; UT 88%; VA 89%; VT 82%; WA 84%; WI 91%; WV 93%; WY 81% AK: 78% AK ME: 87% ME WI: 91% WI VT: 82% VT NH: 88% NH WA: 84% WA ID: 81% ID MT: 86% MT ND: 83% ND MN: 83% MN IL: 88% IL MI: 82% MI NY: 87% NY MA: 89% MA OR: 81% OR NV: 81% NV WY: 81% WY SD: 84% SD IA: 88% IA IN: 88% IN OH: 86% OH PA: 88% PA NJ: 91% NJ CT: 88% CT RI: 84% RI CA: 86% CA UT: 88% UT CO: 83% CO NE: 87% NE MO: 89% MO KY: 91% KY WV: 93% WV VA: 89% VA MD: 86% MD DE: 89% DE AZ: 78% AZ NM: 77% NM KS: 88% KS AR: 90% AR TN: 87% TN NC: 87% NC SC: 84% SC DC: 77% DC OK: 81% OK LA: 83% LA MS: 89% MS AL: 90% AL GA: 84% GA HI: 86% HI TX: 90% TX FL: 88% FL
Four-year graduation rate, class of 2023 by state AK 78%; AL 90%; AR 90%; AZ 78%; CA 86%; CO 83%; CT 88%; DC 77%; DE 89%; FL 88%; GA 84%; HI 86%; IA 88%; ID 81%; IL 88%; IN 88%; KS 88%; KY 91%; LA 83%; MA 89%; MD 86%; ME 87%; MI 82%; MN 83%; MO 89%; MS 89%; MT 86%; NC 87%; ND 83%; NE 87%; NH 88%; NJ 91%; NM 77%; NV 81%; NY 87%; OH 86%; OK 81%; OR 81%; PA 88%; RI 84%; SC 84%; SD 84%; TN 87%; TX 90%; UT 88%; VA 89%; VT 82%; WA 84%; WI 91%; WV 93%; WY 81% AK: 78% AK ME: 87% ME WI: 91% WI VT: 82% VT NH: 88% NH WA: 84% WA ID: 81% ID MT: 86% MT ND: 83% ND MN: 83% MN IL: 88% IL MI: 82% MI NY: 87% NY MA: 89% MA OR: 81% OR NV: 81% NV WY: 81% WY SD: 84% SD IA: 88% IA IN: 88% IN OH: 86% OH PA: 88% PA NJ: 91% NJ CT: 88% CT RI: 84% RI CA: 86% CA UT: 88% UT CO: 83% CO NE: 87% NE MO: 89% MO KY: 91% KY WV: 93% WV VA: 89% VA MD: 86% MD DE: 89% DE AZ: 78% AZ NM: 77% NM KS: 88% KS AR: 90% AR TN: 87% TN NC: 87% NC SC: 84% SC DC: 77% DC OK: 81% OK LA: 83% LA MS: 89% MS AL: 90% AL GA: 84% GA HI: 86% HI TX: 90% TX FL: 88% FL
Four-year graduation rate, class of 2023
D.C. is one city system, so it is in the table but not ranked among the 50 states. The District of Columbia is shown but not ranked among the states.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts: four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates (FS150/FS151), school year 2022-23, state level, all students, from ED Data Express.
Which states graduate the most students in four years: the top ten Four-year graduation rate, class of 2023, highest ten states West Virginia 92.6%; Kentucky 91.4%; New Jersey 90.5%; Wisconsin 90.5%; Texas 90.3%; Alabama 90.0%; Arkansas 89.9%; Mississippi 89.4%; Missouri 89.3%; Massachusetts 89.2%; U.S., weighted by class size 86.6%. 0 25 50 75 100 West Virginia 92.6% Kentucky 91.4% New Jersey 90.5% Wisconsin 90.5% Texas 90.3% Alabama 90.0% Arkansas 89.9% Mississippi 89.4% Missouri 89.3% Massachusetts 89.2% U.S., weighted by class size 86.6%
Four-year graduation rate, class of 2023, highest ten states West Virginia 92.6%; Kentucky 91.4%; New Jersey 90.5%; Wisconsin 90.5%; Texas 90.3%; Alabama 90.0%; Arkansas 89.9%; Mississippi 89.4%; Missouri 89.3%; Massachusetts 89.2%; U.S., weighted by class size 86.6%. 0 25 50 75 100 West Virginia 92.6% Kentucky 91.4% New Jersey 90.5% Wisconsin 90.5% Texas 90.3% Alabama 90.0% Arkansas 89.9% Mississippi 89.4% Missouri 89.3% Massachusetts 89.2% U.S., weighted by class size 86.6%
Four-year graduation rate, class of 2023, highest ten states West Virginia 92.6%; Kentucky 91.4%; New Jersey 90.5%; Wisconsin 90.5%; Texas 90.3%; Alabama 90.0%; Arkansas 89.9%; Mississippi 89.4%; Missouri 89.3%; Massachusetts 89.2%; U.S., weighted by class size 86.6%. 0 50 100 West Virginia 92.6% Kentucky 91.4% New Jersey 90.5% Wisconsin 90.5% Texas 90.3% Alabama 90.0% Arkansas 89.9% Mississippi 89.4% Missouri 89.3% Massachusetts 89.2% U.S., weighted by class size 86.6%
Four-year graduation rate, class of 2023, highest ten states West Virginia 92.6%; Kentucky 91.4%; New Jersey 90.5%; Wisconsin 90.5%; Texas 90.3%; Alabama 90.0%; Arkansas 89.9%; Mississippi 89.4%; Missouri 89.3%; Massachusetts 89.2%; U.S., weighted by class size 86.6%. 0 50 100 West Virginia 92.6% Kentucky 91.4% New Jersey 90.5% Wisconsin 90.5% Texas 90.3% Alabama 90.0% Arkansas 89.9% Mississippi 89.4% Missouri 89.3% Massachusetts 89.2% U.S., weighted by class size 86.6%
Which states graduate the fewest: the bottom ten Four-year graduation rate, class of 2023, lowest ten states New Mexico 76.5%; Arizona 77.8%; Alaska 77.9%; Idaho 81.1%; Oklahoma 81.2%; Oregon 81.3%; Wyoming 81.4%; Nevada 81.4%; Michigan 81.8%; Vermont 82.0%; U.S., weighted by class size 86.6%. 0 25 50 75 100 New Mexico 76.5% Arizona 77.8% Alaska 77.9% Idaho 81.1% Oklahoma 81.2% Oregon 81.3% Wyoming 81.4% Nevada 81.4% Michigan 81.8% Vermont 82.0% U.S., weighted by class size 86.6%
Four-year graduation rate, class of 2023, lowest ten states New Mexico 76.5%; Arizona 77.8%; Alaska 77.9%; Idaho 81.1%; Oklahoma 81.2%; Oregon 81.3%; Wyoming 81.4%; Nevada 81.4%; Michigan 81.8%; Vermont 82.0%; U.S., weighted by class size 86.6%. 0 25 50 75 100 New Mexico 76.5% Arizona 77.8% Alaska 77.9% Idaho 81.1% Oklahoma 81.2% Oregon 81.3% Wyoming 81.4% Nevada 81.4% Michigan 81.8% Vermont 82.0% U.S., weighted by class size 86.6%
Four-year graduation rate, class of 2023, lowest ten states New Mexico 76.5%; Arizona 77.8%; Alaska 77.9%; Idaho 81.1%; Oklahoma 81.2%; Oregon 81.3%; Wyoming 81.4%; Nevada 81.4%; Michigan 81.8%; Vermont 82.0%; U.S., weighted by class size 86.6%. 0 50 100 New Mexico 76.5% Arizona 77.8% Alaska 77.9% Idaho 81.1% Oklahoma 81.2% Oregon 81.3% Wyoming 81.4% Nevada 81.4% Michigan 81.8% Vermont 82.0% U.S., weighted by class size 86.6%
Four-year graduation rate, class of 2023, lowest ten states New Mexico 76.5%; Arizona 77.8%; Alaska 77.9%; Idaho 81.1%; Oklahoma 81.2%; Oregon 81.3%; Wyoming 81.4%; Nevada 81.4%; Michigan 81.8%; Vermont 82.0%; U.S., weighted by class size 86.6%. 0 50 100 New Mexico 76.5% Arizona 77.8% Alaska 77.9% Idaho 81.1% Oklahoma 81.2% Oregon 81.3% Wyoming 81.4% Nevada 81.4% Michigan 81.8% Vermont 82.0% U.S., weighted by class size 86.6%
The question and the method What share of each state's public high school class of 2023 earned a regular diploma within four years, and how far apart are the states?
The adjusted-cohort graduation rate as each state reported it to the U.S. Department of Education: the students who entered ninth grade for the first time in fall 2019, plus those who transferred in and minus those who transferred out, emigrated or died, and the share of them who earned a regular high school diploma by the end of the 2022-23 school year. The U.S. figure weights each state's rate by the size of its class; it is our calculation, not a published national rate.
Limits. Federal law sets how the rate is computed, but each state sets its own diploma requirements, so a higher rate can reflect an easier or a harder diploma as well as more students finishing. It counts four years only; students who finish in a fifth or sixth year are not in it. It says nothing about what graduates know.
Every state All 51 as a table State Rank Four-year graduation rate, class of 2023 Students in the class West Virginia 1 92.6% 18,443 Kentucky 2 91.4% 49,023 New Jersey 3 90.5% 106,157 Wisconsin 4 90.5% 65,638 Texas 5 90.3% 403,301 Alabama 6 90.0% 52,928 Arkansas 7 89.9% 35,156 Mississippi 8 89.4% 31,998 Missouri 9 89.3% 67,017 Massachusetts 10 89.2% 72,602 Delaware 11 88.9% 10,914 Virginia 12 88.8% 99,059 Utah 13 88.3% 52,066 Connecticut 14 88.2% 40,732 Indiana 15 88.1% 77,216 New Hampshire 16 88.1% 13,202 Florida 17 88.0% 208,274 Kansas 18 88.0% 36,783 Illinois 19 87.6% 149,998 Iowa 20 87.5% 38,026 Pennsylvania 21 87.5% 136,045 Maine 22 87.3% 13,941 Nebraska 23 87.3% 24,336 Tennessee 24 87.3% 71,510 New York 25 87.2% 202,009 North Carolina 26 86.5% 120,822 Ohio 27 86.2% 132,008 California 28 86.2% 495,492 Maryland 29 85.8% 67,829 Hawaii 30 85.5% 12,943 Montana 31 85.5% 10,838 Georgia 32 84.4% 134,822 Rhode Island 33 84.1% 11,062 South Dakota 34 84.0% 9,963 South Carolina 35 83.8% 59,540 Washington 36 83.8% 85,003 Minnesota 37 83.3% 69,945 North Dakota 38 83.2% 8,249 Colorado 39 82.7% 68,390 Louisiana 40 82.6% 50,762 Vermont 41 82.0% 5,828 Michigan 42 81.8% 115,301 Nevada 43 81.4% 38,348 Wyoming 44 81.4% 7,475 Oregon 45 81.3% 46,371 Oklahoma 46 81.2% 52,179 Idaho 47 81.1% 25,525 Alaska 48 77.9% 9,629 Arizona 49 77.8% 93,470 District of Columbia not ranked 76.5% 4,759 New Mexico 50 76.5% 25,411
Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts: four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates (FS150/FS151), school year 2022-23, state level, all students, from ED Data Express.
Sources
Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts Four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rate · 2022-23
Cite this page PlainSchools, “Graduation Rate by State, Class of 2023 (EDFacts).” Compiled from EDFacts adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23; data as of 2026-09-29.
https://plainschools.com/research/graduation-rate-by-state
APA and MLA references for this page APA: PlainSchools. (2026). Graduation Rate by State, Class of 2023 (EDFacts). Retrieved October 20, 2026 , from https://plainschools.com/research/graduation-rate-by-state
MLA: "Graduation Rate by State, Class of 2023 (EDFacts)." PlainSchools, 2026, https://plainschools.com/research/graduation-rate-by-state.
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Compiled from official source data by PlainSchools . · Updated September 2026