Kansas Faces 'Graduation Gap' as Math Readiness Lags Behind Rising Diploma Rates
Event summary
- Kansas has a 69 percentage point gap between high school graduation rates (90%) and math proficiency rates (21%) among 10th graders.
- The state's graduation rate has risen while math achievement has stagnated or declined, mirroring a national trend.
- Only 21% of Kansas 10th graders meet state math proficiency standards, risking workforce shortages in tech roles.
- The Collaborative for Student Success recommends six policy levers to close the gap, including expanding access to high-quality instructional materials and increasing instructional time.
The big picture
The 'Graduation Gap' in Kansas highlights a broader national issue where rising high school graduation rates do not align with college and career readiness, particularly in math. This disconnect has real consequences for students and the workforce, as more students require remedial math courses in college or struggle to meet workforce training requirements. The Collaborative for Student Success's analysis underscores the need for states to align diploma standards with actual student outcomes to ensure long-term success.
What we're watching
- Policy Implementation
- Whether Kansas will adopt the Collaborative's recommended policy levers to improve math proficiency and close the graduation gap.
- Workforce Impact
- How the Graduation Gap will affect Kansas' ability to fill nearly 25,000 unfilled tech roles and the annual addition of 1,200 more.
- National Trends
- The pace at which other states will address similar graduation gaps, given the national trend of rising graduation rates and stagnant math achievement.