Image representing education in New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The latest high school graduation data for the 2023 cohort shows that New Mexico schools are making consistent progress toward higher graduation rates. Career Technical Education students, in particular, graduated at a high rate.
Since the 2008 cohort, New Mexico has been tracking graduation rates in a consistent manner. And since then, the overall graduation rate has made a slow march upward.
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Data from the state’s public education department shows overall graduation rates have increased slightly over time.
The 2023 cohort of high school seniors had a graduation rate of 76.7%. That’s similar to the rate over the last four years.
While overall rates have increased by about 42% since the 2008 cohort, the graduation rates of Hispanic students and Native American students increased even more, at 52% and 64.5% respectively.
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While New Mexico overall has lagged behind some other states, the data shows that New Mexico’s Career Technical Education (CTE) students have a particularly high graduation rate, at 95.77%. That program combines technical and occupational training alongside traditional classwork.
“The 2023 graduation data is a testament to the power of practical, skills-based learning. When students view education as a pathway to a successful career, they are more engaged,” New Mexico Public Education Secretary Arsenio Romero said in a press release. “The PED will continue to develop our career technical programs and promote them to schools and districts.”