Washington's Class of 2024 included 87,585 students in the four-year graduation cohort. After four years, 82.8% had graduated, leaving 15,102 students without an on-time diploma.

One year later, the same class's five-year graduation rate was 85.1%. The additional year produced 2,084 more graduates and raised the rate by 2.4 percentage points.

The cohort alignment matters. Washington reports the Class of 2024's four-year result under 2024 and its five-year result under 2025. Comparing the two rates reported in the same year would mix different graduating classes.

The fifth-year gain varies by subgroup

Students with disabilities recorded the largest reported gain among the subgroups examined: 65.4% after four years and 70.5% after five, a 5.1-point increase. Foster students gained 4.9 points, from 51.2% to 56.1%. English learners gained 4.7 points, from 68.8% to 73.5%.

Other within-cohort gains included 3.5 points for students experiencing homelessness, 3.5 for Native American students, 3.3 for migrant students, 3.2 for Black students, and 3.1 for Pacific Islander students.

The statewide gain was 2.4 points. White students gained 2.0 points, Asian students 1.5, and highly capable students 0.9.

These comparisons describe when additional diplomas were earned. The graduation data does not establish why some groups recorded larger fifth-year gains.

District differences on the same cohort basis

Among districts with at least 30 students in the Class of 2024 four-year cohort, Mount Adams School District^↗ET had the largest rate difference: 75.0% after four years and 88.0% after five, a 13.0-point gain.

South Whidbey School District^↗ET gained 10.9 points, Concrete School District^↗ET 9.1, Granite Falls School District^↗ET 9.0, and Kennewick School District^↗ET 8.5.

District cohort counts can change slightly between the four-year and five-year reports as records are updated. The chart therefore compares published rates for the same graduating class; it does not convert every district rate difference into a count of additional graduates.

What the extra year measures

The five-year rate captures diplomas earned after the standard four-year window. For the Class of 2024 statewide, that meant 2,084 additional graduates. The subgroup and district comparisons show where the rate changed most, while leaving the causes to further reporting.

Analysis uses graduation cohort data published by the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Detailed code that reproduces the analysis and figures in this article is available exclusively to EdTribune subscribers.