UMATILLA COUNTY — The Oregon Department of Education released 2024 public school graduation rates early Thursday, Jan. 30, revealing Pendleton and Umatilla school districts were above average for their four-year graduation rates.

Statewide, 81.8% of students graduating last year graduated high school in four years to earn a diploma. That number goes up to 84.5% for the four-year completion rate, which accounts for a high school diploma as well as modified diplomas and General Educational Development certificates.

In Umatilla County, Pendleton and Umatilla school districts celebrated success with the final cohort to have a high school experience including at least one year of entirely online learning due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Pendleton School District

In Pendleton School District, the four-year cohort rate was 83.2%, about 1.5 percentage points above the state average and a 6.5 percentage point increase over 2023. Pendleton High School’s four-year cohort rate was 88.8%, 4.9 percentage points higher than the year before and 7 percentage points higher than the average.

Nixyaawii Community School had similar success in 2024. Its four-year cohort graduation rate was 87%, more than 14 percentage points higher than the year before and about 5 percentage points higher than the state average.

“There has been much to overcome for these students and many challenges our staff have faced head-on to ensure these students graduate,” the district said in a press release. “The Pendleton School District results are very strong with a couple very specific areas needing improvement.”

These areas, according to the district, are improving its five-year completion rate, which, at 83.7%, is 3 percentage points lower than the state average of 86.7%. Nixyaawii’s five-year rate is 75.8%, nearly 10 percentage points below the state average. The district also said its 83.2% four-year cohort graduation rate still is “much lower than (its) goal to help all students succeed.”

However, the district highlighted increases in not only its general graduation rate but its Hispanic student and students with disabilities graduation rates, as well. Native American and white student groups also had no gap in graduation rates.

Umatilla School District

Umatilla High School’s Class of 2024 achieved a 90.5% completion rate, 6 percentage points higher than the state’s 84.5% four-year completion rate and about 12 percentage points above the school’s 2023 rate of 78.6%.

The high school also surpassed state averages across some student groups. More than 91% of Hispanic students completed degrees in four years, compared to the state average of 80.9%. Additionally, English learners — at a graduation rate of 92% — and students experiencing poverty — with 84.8% graduating — at Umatilla exceeded the state averages of 68.9% and 73.2%, respectively.

Umatilla School District highlighted the class of 2024’s achievements in other ways, too. According to a press release, the class earned 1,682 college credits, with eight students graduating with their associate of arts transfer degrees from Blue Mountain Community College concurrently with their high school diplomas.

Superintendent Heidi Sipe said in a press release the district’s programs supporting career technical education, dual language education and early literacy education were vital to the high school’s success.

“These results are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, staff and families,” Sipe said.

General Educational Development