We’re getting a look at new data on the state and national level that shows how Michigan stacks up when it comes to high school graduation and post-secondary attainment rates.

According to data from the Michigan Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI) shared by the state, a larger percentage of Michigan high school students graduated in the 2017-2018 school year, increasing Michigan’s statewide four-year graduation rate to 80.64 percent.  

CEPI shares we are getting a clearer picture about what’s happening statewide as this is the first-time subgroups of students including those in foster care, students who are considered military connected and Early Middle College students have been included in the data set.

“Adding these new demographic subgroups provides the ability to review and better understand how all Michigan students are progressing through their education,” Tom Howell, executive director, CEPI said. “Having this additional context to our graduation and dropout rates will help us evaluate and better work toward equity for our children.”

The data provides insights on four, five and six-year graduation rates. While the four-year rates are improving, we did see a slight uptick in our state’s four-year dropout rate. Currently it sits at 8.73 percent, up from 8.65 percent in 2017.

There’s no explanation as to why we are seeing a slight increase in dropout rates, but Shelia Alles, interim state superintendent, said we are heading in a positive direction with the graduation rates.

“Getting more students through high school and on to a postsecondary program will help us reach Governor Whitmer’s goal of 60 percent of Michigan residents with a postsecondary credential by the year 2030,” Alles said.

As CMF reported last month, the governor announced the goal in her State of the State address. Prior to her announcement Michigan was one of only nine states in the U.S. without a formal goal for postsecondary attainment.

Many CMF members have been engaging in this work for some time through their Local College Access Networks (LCAN) and the Michigan College Access Network (MCAN), many of which were initiated through subgrants from The Kresge Foundation to community foundations throughout the state.

MCAN adopted the Lumina Foundation established goal of 60 percent postsecondary attainment by 2025.

Brandy Johnson, executive director of MCAN, told CMF they were “thrilled to join other states in the U.S. with an official proclamation of a specific goal.”

A new report from the Lumina Foundation shows that Michigan’s postsecondary attainment rate is now at 45 percent, our highest rate ever. The national rate is 47.6 percent.

The report shows Michigan has been on a positive trajectory, with consecutive growth since 2008.

Breakdown of the data:

• About 4 percent of Michigan residents have a certificate level education.

• 10.4 percent have an associate degree.

• 19.2 percent have a bachelor’s degree.

• 11.5 percent have a graduate or professional degree.

The report also provides a county by county snapshot of attainment rates around the state.

As for Johnson, she will be taking her work from MCAN to the governor’s office. Last week it was announced Whitmer appointed Johnson to serve as the new policy advisor for postsecondary educational attainment and workforce development.

Want more?

Check out the Lumina Foundation’s full report.