Press Release - 2025 Graduation Rates Across ISD 728 Outpace State Averages

The Minnesota Department of Education released Class of 2025 graduation data in early April, with great news for Minnesota’s continued efforts to increase graduation rates across the board and prepare students for life, college and career.

The state announced nearly 62,000 students met graduation expectations in 2025 for a rate of 84.9 percent. That’s up from 84.2 percent of all students in 2024.

In ISD 728, that rate was even higher. A total of 950 students were members of the Class of 2025, with 89 percent of students graduating from the District. That is more than 4 percentage points higher than the state average, continuing ISD 728’s trend of beating state marks. The 950 graduates in the Class of 2025 make it the District’s largest since 2022 (952). 

“At a time when public education is often questioned, our results tell a different story,” said Superintendent Andy Almos. “ISD 728 students continue to graduate at rates that exceed the Minnesota state average, reflecting both the academic rigor in our classrooms and the commitment of our staff and families. Our graduates are not only earning diplomas, they are leaving our system prepared for life, ready for college, careers, and whatever path they choose next. We remain focused on continuous improvement, but we should also take pride in the fact that our students are achieving at a high level and exceeding expectations.”

Some bright spots around ISD 728: 

• Zimmerman High School had the District’s largest jump, as 94.5 percent of all seniors met requirements. The Thunder graduated 172 seniors on time, with three more working toward their diploma in summer 2025. This marks three straight years of growth for ZHS, and the 94.5 mark is the school’s highest since 2020. 
• Battling historic enrollment growth, Rogers High School again topped the 94 percent rate, with over 409 students graduating. With an additional 13 students continuing to work toward their diploma in summer 2025, the Class of 2025 had a grad rate of better than 97.5 percent. It’s the largest class in RHS history. The Class of 2026 and 2027 will increase as RHS pushes toward a new, historic mark of more than 500 graduates per year. 
• At Ivan Sand Community High School, 10 students graduated in June 2025, and 20 more were continuing their education with summer classes to work toward that goal. 
• Elk River Senior High saw 88.5 percent of its students graduate, with another 6.6 percent continuing to work into summer to reach requirements - bringing the total above 95 percent. More than 360 seniors earned their diploma from ERHS in 2024-2025.  

Statewide, graduation rates increased across nearly every student group, with notable gains among American Indian, Black, Asian, and Hispanic or Latino students, as well as students receiving special education services and those from lower-income families. The graduation rate for American Indian students increased by nearly 5 percentage points from last year and has risen 9 percentage points since 2021, one of the largest gains of any student group.  

ISD 728 ranked high among the state’s largest school districts, exceeding St. Cloud and matching South Washington and Anoka-Hennepin. Eden Prairie finished at a 90.1 percent graduation rate, with Lakeville Area Schools at 93 percent and Wayzata at 96 to lead all larger districts.