Native American Schools Hit Record Graduation Rates, Matching National Average
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📰 The quick summary: Native American high schools managed or funded by the Bureau of Indian Education have reached their highest graduation rates on record, now matching the national average of 87 to 88% and closing a longstanding educational gap.
📈 One key stat: Graduation rates for Native American students climbed from just 51% in 2015 to match the national average of 87 to 88% in 2026, showing how far these communities have come in roughly a decade.
💬 One key quote: “Our students are showing the nation what Native excellence looks like,” said Bureau of Indian Education Director Tony Dearman.
1️⃣ The big picture: High schools managed or funded by the Bureau of Indian Education have recorded the highest graduation rates in the agency’s history, with 8 schools seeing every senior in the 2025/26 class graduate and 13 more reaching rates of 90% or higher. For generations, Native American communities have faced persistent disadvantages across education, health, and income, making this milestone especially significant. Graduation rates at these schools now sit at 87 to 88%, right in line with the national average, erasing a gap that once seemed very difficult to close. A mix of updated data practices, remote learning options, expanded vocational opportunities, and stronger community engagement all contributed to the gains. Back in 2015, just 51% of students at these schools graduated, making the progress seen over the past decade remarkable.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: Reaching the national graduation average means Native American students now have access to the same educational outcomes as their peers across the country, opening doors to higher education, careers, and economic opportunity at an unprecedented level. Schools modernized their data systems with real-time dashboards and early identification tools, helping educators spot struggling students and step in before they fall too far behind. Keeping remote learning in place gave students with family caregiving or work responsibilities a real path to finishing their education rather than having to choose between school and home. Expanding exposure to trades and technical fields helped students who learn best outside a traditional classroom stay engaged and see a clear future after graduation. Perhaps most powerfully, this achievement reflects what happens when students, families, educators, and tribal communities work together toward a shared goal, proving that systemic change in Native education is absolutely possible.
3️⃣ What’s next: Schools will likely build on momentum by continuing to refine data tools and expand student support programs. Remote learning and vocational pathways that proved effective may become permanent fixtures across more Bureau of Indian Education schools. Sustained investment and continued tribal community involvement will be key to maintaining and improving on these record graduation rates.
Read the full story here: Good News Network – American Indian Schools Achieve Highest Graduation Rates in the Nation’s History
