Pinellas County Schools celebrates record graduation rate of 93.4%

Pinellas County Schools celebrates record graduation rate of 93.4% January 13, 2026 Pinellas County Schools celebrates its highest graduation rate ever for the 2024-25 school year. According to the Florida Department of Education’s official report, PCS’s graduation rate rose to 93.4%, up nearly two percentage points from last year. All 17 traditional high schools achieved graduation rates over 90%; one school, Palm Harbor University, earned a 100% graduation rate. PCS outpaced the state graduation rate (92.2%) and ranks high among Florida’s largest public-school districts and those in the Tampa Bay area. The district continues to focus on closing achievement gaps, as reflected in the Bridging the Gap plan, which once again resulted in the district’s highest graduation rate among Black students and the lowest gap in district history. The graduation rate among Black students for 2024-25 rose to 88%, up nearly 3 percentage points from the previous year and nearly 23 percentage points since the plan’s inception in the 2015-16 school year. When the Bridging the Gap plan was implemented, the graduation gap between Black and non-Black students was 17.9 percentage points. This gap narrowed in 2024-25 to 6.5% percentage points. There is no gap between Hispanic and overall graduation rates, with the Hispanic graduation rate at 93.5%, nearly two percentage points higher than last year. “This graduating class is a powerful testament of perseverance, dedication, and community support,” said Pinellas County Schools Superintendent Kevin Hendrick. “Our students are stepping into their next chapter prepared, confident, and ready for college, careers, and life.” Additional 2024-25 highlights include: Pinellas outpaced the state graduation rate by 1.2%. The graduation rate for these subgroups increased year over year: PCS Hispanic students rose from 91.6% to 93.5%. PCS English learning students rose from 90.7% to 92.8%. PCS exceptional student education (ESE) students rose from 87.3% to 88.4%. PCS economically disadvantaged students rose from 86.7% to 89.5%. PCS has two Pinellas Education Alternative Schools earning graduation rates higher than 86.7%: Lealman Innovation Academy (87.5%) and Bayside High School (86.7%); and two Exceptional Student Education centers Nina Harris Exceptional Education Center (94.1%), and Paul B. Stephens School, an exceptional 100%. All 17 traditional high schools earned graduation rates over 90% in 2024-25, with six (6) schools having a rate at or above 99%, and one scored 100%. All graduation data are posted on the Florida Department of Education website.