In Massachusetts, we strive to improve the quality of the public education system so that students are adequately prepared for higher education, rewarding employment, continued education, and responsible citizenship. Raising graduation rates is an important part of this goal. The annual dropout rate and the cohort graduation rate are two of the methods that the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) uses to measure how schools and districts are doing with respect to this important goal.
The annual dropout rate provides information about one particular school year and all students enrolled in high school in that year. In comparison, the cohort graduation rate and the cohort dropout rate provide information about a particular group of students followed over the course of high school. One statistic is not the inverse of the other, nor are they duplicative. Each measure provides a particular and distinct perspective on a school's success in keeping high school students in school. This overview explains each measure and the key differences between the two.
The annual dropout rate is calculated by dividing the number of students who drop out over a one-year period by the October 1 grade 9–12 enrollment, multiplied by 100. Dropouts are those students who dropped out of school between July 1 and June 30 of a given year and who did not return to school, graduate, or attain a High School Equivalency credential (HiSET or GED) by the following October 1. This dropout measure was developed by the U.S. Department of Education and has been reported by DESE since 1993. Prior to 1993, DESE reported a dropout rate that included all students who dropped out of school regardless of whether they returned to school.
An example of the formula for the annual dropout rate is as follows:
Since the 2001-02 school year, the rate has been based on student-level data reported to DESE by districts through the Student Information Management System (SIMS). Prior to that, the rates were based on aggregate counts collected from school districts.
Annual dropout reports and additional information on the methodology used to calculate dropout rates can be found on the Dropout Rates website.
DESE calculates and reports graduation rates as part of overall efforts to improve educational outcomes for all students. In addition, reporting graduation rates is required by the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The rate tracks a cohort of students from grade 9 through high school and represents the percentage of the cohort that graduates within a certain amount of time. DESE began reporting cohort graduation rates following the 2005-06 school year.
The four-year graduation rate for the 2024 cohort is calculated as follows:
As part of the reporting of the graduation rate, DESE also reports the status of students who did not graduate in four years. Non-graduates include students still enrolled in high school, students who earned a GED or received a certificate of attainment rather than a diploma, or dropped out. The cohort dropout rate is the percentage of students in a cohort who dropped out of school at any time in grades 9–12 and did not return.
More information on the cohort graduation rates can be found on the Graduation Rates website.
If you have questions about DESE's graduation and dropout rate data, please email data@mass.gov .
Last Updated: May 9, 2025