Key facts
- Graduation rates at U.S. Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools reached a record 79% by 2025, up from just over half in 2015.
- Improved data collection methods, implemented starting in 2018, have led to more accurate reporting of graduation rates.
- Career and technical education programs have been credited with increasing student engagement and motivation.
- Chief Leschi Schools saw its four-year graduation rate climb from 53% to 87% between 2019 and 2025.
- Concerns remain that potential administrative changes could negatively impact future progress.
Native American graduation rates at federally funded schools have seen a significant increase, with the U.S. Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) reporting a record high of 79% by 2025, up from just over half in 2015. This progress is attributed to a combination of local innovations, such as career and technical education programs, and more accurate data collection methods implemented since 2018.
Gerald Dillon, a recent graduate of Chief Leschi Schools in Washington, exemplifies this trend. He found renewed motivation and improved his academic performance after enrolling in career training courses, which better matched his learning style and provided a sense of purpose. His school, Chief Leschi, saw its four-year graduation rate climb from 53% in 2019 to 87% by 2025.
Administrators and educators within the BIE system acknowledge that improved reporting standards have played a crucial role. Previously, flawed data collection methods, such as counting transferred students as dropouts, had depressed the numbers. Carmelia Becenti, the BIE's chief academic officer, noted that standardizing data collection since 2018 has painted a more accurate and encouraging picture. An analysis by the Associated Press revealed a 55% increase in graduation rates across the BIE system since the new standards were rolled out.
Beyond data fixes, innovative approaches are also credited with the gains. At Choctaw Central High School, a BIE school operated by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw, a COVID-era experiment with virtual learning contributed to a surge in graduation rates from approximately 70% to 93%. Don Brummett, superintendent of Chief Leschi Schools, highlighted the importance of devaluing trades and integrating them into the curriculum, a move funded by the Puyallup Tribal Council, which has helped students who might otherwise have dropped out find new pathways.
Despite these positive developments, concerns loom regarding the future stability of these gains. Potential changes under the Trump administration, including the planned dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education and fallout from previous budget cuts, could undermine the progress made and hinder struggling schools from improving.