HOLYOKE — The graduation rate among Holyoke students was 77.1% for the 2023-24 school year, according to recenly released state data, a rate 15 percentage points higher than before the district was placed into recievership.
“Over the past four years, we have invested significantly in instructional leadership, standards-aligned curriculum, high-quality teaching practices, and social emotional support for our students,” Anthony Soto, the district’s superintendent and receiver, said in a statement. “This is contributing to greater success for our students at all grade levels.”
The district’s 77.1% graduation rate for the 2023-24 school year represents a increase of 2.5 percentage points from the previous year, the district said in a statement. It is the highest graduation rate since before receivership, it added.
Similarly, the district’s dropout rates have declined. In the 2023-24 school year, the district had a dropout rate of 4.9%, down from 7.6% in 2014-15.
Students to don the cap and gown in greater numbers include English language learners, who graduated at a rate of 35.5% in 2014-15 to 67.9% in 2023-24; students with disabilities, who increased from 32.1% in 2014-15 to 63% in 2023-24; and Hispanic/Latino students, who increased from 55.6% in 2015-16 to 76.2% in 2023-24, according to recently published data by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Soto said the key improvement occurred when Holyoke’s high school programming was redesigned at the start of receivership in the 2015-16 school year. This redesign provided students with various engaging pathways, leading to increased involvement in school.
“In 2011, nearly 10 percent of Holyoke high school students dropped out of school and less than 50 percent of students graduated from high school,” said Jacqueline Glasheen, the incoming assistant superintendent, who is set to enter her role on June 1. Her statement added that the school district aims to increase its graduation rate.
Graduation data reflects the old state rule that required students to pass the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System tests to graduate. However, the state removed the requirement after a successful vote to strike the requirement in November 2024. Now, each school district set its own rules for graduation.
For the 2024-25 school year, graduation decisions won’t be based on MCAS results, although Holyoke Public Schools students will still take these tests, Soto said.
