Memphis-Shelby County Schools says its 2025–26 state graduation rate reached 85.4%, the highest point in the district's seven-year comparison.

The district announced the results October 29, offering a positive measure of student progress as public discussion continues over the school system's governance.

How the numbers compare

The state graduation rate was 84.4% in 2024–25 and 77.7% in 2020, according to the district.

That represents a one-percentage-point increase from last year and a 7.7-percentage-point rise since 2020.

Those annual rates represent different graduating classes; they do not track one group of students for seven years.

MSCS also reported a federal graduation rate of 84.8%, compared with 84.1% a year earlier.

State and federal calculations follow different rules and should not be treated as interchangeable.

Other academic measures

The district says proficiency increased from 2024–25 to 2025–26 in all four major tested subjects.

English language arts and mathematics each increased 1.1 percentage points, while science rose 1.9 points and social studies 2.6 points.

Those gains are welcome, although the percentages alone do not reveal every school-level trend or remaining achievement gap.

Superintendent Dr. Roderick F. Richmond credited students, families, educators and staff for helping more students reach graduation.

What families can watch next

School-level results, attendance, course completion, college and career readiness, and student support programs will help show how progress is distributed across the district.

The new results provide a constructive point of reference for families and community members evaluating the school system.

901 Daily will continue covering both student outcomes and the separate legal debate over district oversight.