Graduation Rates and Dropout Rates in Montana for 2023

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On March 20, 2024, Office of Public Instruction Superintendent Elsie Arntzen announced graduation rates and dropout rates for Spring of 2023. According to Arntzen, a total of 9,563 students graduated in the state of Montana. The state-wide graduation rates from spring 2019 to spring 2023 were: 

• 2019 – 86.64% 
• 2020 – 85.89% 
• 2021 – 86.13% 
• 2022 – 85.80% 
• 2023 – 85.62% 

“We are all Montana proud of the students, parents, teachers, and school leaders who are committed to academic success,” said Arntzen. “Montana is increasing student engagement through innovation. The new MAST through-year assessment and the revitalization of our Math and Reading standards are a path forward.” 

Arntzen also provided the 2022-2023 graduation rate for American Indian students, which showed a 3.77% decrease from the previous 2021-2022 school year. The American Indian graduation rates from spring 2019 to spring 2023 were: 

• 2019 – 66.73% 
• 2020 – 68.27% 
• 2021 – 69.18% 
• 2022 – 68.67% 
• 2023 – 66.08% 

The dropout rate calculates the number of students who dropped out of school in a single year divided by the total enrollment of students in that grade. The state-wide dropout rate for grades 9-12 from the 2018-2019 school year through the 2022-2023 school year were: 

• 2019 – 3.59% 
• 2020 – 2.91% 
• 2021 – 3.74% 
• 2022 – 3.99% 
• 2023 – 3.76% 

The 2022-2023 American Indian student dropout rate showed a 17.13% decrease from the previous school year. The American Indian dropout rates from 2018- 2019 to 2022- 2023 were: 

• 2019 – 8.39% 
• 2020 –6.91% 
• 2021 – 7.99% 
• 2022 – 10.74% 
• 2023 – 8.90% 

READ MORE: UM Spring Enrollment Up 2.5 Percent to 10,349 Total Students

On February 5, 2024, Arntzen opened the Spring student enrollment count, which contributes to the Average Number Belonging (ANB) calculation.

Montana’s fall student count for ANB from Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 – 2023 was: 

• 2015: 143,412 
• 2016: 144,282 
• 2017: 145,601 
• 2018: 145,923 
• 2019: 146,909 
• 2020: 148,195 
• 2021: 144,850 
• 2022: 148,508 
• 2023: 149,787 

The fall student enrollment count for FY 2024 was 147,979, which is 1,808 fewer students than FY 2023. The decreases were: 

• Elementary student count was down 1,323 students 
• Middle School student count was down 388 students 
• High School student count was down 97 students