NYC graduation rates down by largest year-over-year percentage in 20 years

New York City graduation rates saw the largest year-over-year percentage drop in more than 20 years, according to newly released data from the Department of Education.

The Big Apple saw 81.2% of the kids, or 58,660 students, graduate in the 2024-2025 school year, compared to 83.3%, or 57,353 students, the previous school year, the data revealed.

It’s the first time NYC has seen such a dramatic decline since the 2004-2005 school year, when the graduation rate dipped 1.1% from the previous year.

Graduation rates dropped two percent year over year. Christopher Sadowski

City schoolkids did worse than their statewide counterparts, with Empire State students logging a graduation rate of 85.5%, a one percent drop compared to the year before.

And while fewer kids graduated, more dropped out. The data showed that 5.2%, or 3,788 students, left school, compared to 4.7% the year before.

The DOE attributed the drop in the number of graduates to fewer students receiving Regents waivers than the previous year’s class. A grade of 65 or higher is required on five statewide Regents tests in order to receive a high school diploma.

New York City schools canceled the June and August Regents in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and granted blanket waivers to students who completed their Regents courses. In subsequent years, eligibility for waivers narrowed.

As a result, 53.3% of 2024’s graduating class received Regents waivers compared to 13.9% of the 2025 graduating class.

“We remain committed to high-quality instruction and strengthening targeted supports so that every student, especially students with disabilities and English language learners, has equitable access to rigorous instruction and clear pathways to graduation,” The DOE said in a statement.

The number of students with disabilities who graduated in four years plunged 5.5 percentage points to 59% and English Language Learner graduation rates declined 3 percentage points to 51%.

It’s the steepest drop in more than two decades. Helayne Seidman

The results come as the city is facing an enrollment crisis. Schools saw the steepest decline in enrollment in four years, shedding 22,000 students the 2025-2026 school year, according to preliminary DOE data.

Though NYC students have made gains in their standardized test scores, nearly 40% still failed reading and math, according to DOE data.