High school graduation rates are a vital component in assessing the status of individuals and communities because educational attainment has a strong influence on future work and earning potential as well as the ability to constructively contribute to one’s community. Graduating from high school has become a minimum requirement for participation in most of our nation’s economy. The percent of all students enrolled in grades nine through twelve who graduate within 5 years or less is measured in this indicator. The rate is adjusted for students who transfer in or out of the schools, and thus measures only those students who began at a given school and graduated from that same school.

Across the region, there was an increase of 2.2 percent in graduation rates between 2014 and 2015. This increase was largely driven by Franklin County, which experienced an increase of 4.3 percent. Although Hampden County experienced a 2.7% drop, the urban core cities of Springfield or Holyoke showed positive trends, experiencing a 6% increase and 1.2% increase in high school graduation rates, respectively.