New York City Experiences Highest Annual Decline in Graduation Rates in Two Decades

New York City’s students lagged behind those across the state, where the overall graduation rate was 85.5%. Statewide, the graduation rate fell by one percent compared to the previous year.

Additionally, the dropout rate increased, with 5.2% of students, equating to 3,788 individuals, leaving school, compared to 4.7% in the prior year.

The Department of Education cited a reduction in the number of students receiving Regents waivers as a key reason for the drop. To graduate, students must score 65 or higher on five statewide Regents exams.

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%.