Grants Pass School District 7 has reached a new milestone in student achievement, posting its highest graduation rate on record for the second consecutive year and surpassing a benchmark the district has been working toward for more than a decade.
According to district data from the 2024–25 school year, the Class of 2025 achieved a four-year graduation rate of 83.6%, marking the first time the district has exceeded the 80% threshold. In addition, the district reported a four-year completer rate of 91%, which accounts for students who earned a traditional diploma as well as those who completed their education through a GED or another state-approved credential.
Both figures place Grants Pass School District above the statewide averages for the same cohort. Across Oregon, the four-year graduation rate was reported at 83%, while the four-year completer rate stood at 85.5%.
District leaders say the results reflect sustained effort rather than a single-year spike. Superintendent Tim Sweeney emphasized that the progress represents a collective commitment shared by educators, families, and students throughout the district.
“This milestone reflects a shared commitment to student success across our district,” Sweeney said. “Our focus remains on empowering each student to reach their potential and leave our schools ready for their next steps.”
Grants Pass High School continued to lead the way academically, setting new internal records for the third year in a row. The school reported a four-year graduation rate of 96.2% and a four-year completer rate of 97%. Based on available regional data, those figures place Grants Pass High School among the highest-performing high schools in Southern Oregon in terms of graduation outcomes.
The district’s alternative education campus, Gladiola High School, also reported its strongest results to date. Gladiola posted a four-year graduation rate of 50% and a completer rate of 77.3%, marking significant progress for a school that serves students facing higher academic and personal barriers.
District officials attribute the steady rise in graduation rates to a coordinated system of academic and social supports implemented across multiple grade levels. These efforts include districtwide adoption of AVID strategies, which focus on building college and career readiness skills, as well as ninth-grade mentoring programs designed to help students navigate the critical transition into high school.
Additional supports include expanded credit recovery options, personalized graduation plans, and ongoing monitoring of attendance and coursework. By tracking key indicators such as attendance patterns and course completion, staff are able to identify students who may be falling behind and intervene earlier than in past years.
Trisha Evens, the district’s Director of Secondary Education, said the results demonstrate the impact of sustained support from kindergarten through graduation, while also acknowledging that challenges remain.
“These results show what’s possible when students are supported from kindergarten through 12th grade,” Evens said. “While we still have work to do for our most at-risk learners, the commitment of staff, families, and our community helps every student have a chance to succeed.”
Community involvement has also played a role, district leaders noted, with families, local organizations, and school staff working together to reinforce expectations and provide resources beyond the classroom. From mentoring and counseling services to flexible learning pathways, the district has focused on meeting students where they are while keeping graduation as a central goal.
As the district looks ahead, administrators say maintaining and improving these outcomes will require continued investment, collaboration, and attention to equity. While celebrating the achievement, officials stressed that graduation rates are not an endpoint, but one measure of whether students are prepared for careers, higher education, or other postsecondary opportunities.
For now, the record-setting results provide a moment of pride for the Grants Pass community and a clear signal that sustained, systemwide efforts can translate into measurable success for students across the district.