Southwest Florida schools see record graduation rates

FLORIDA, (WINK)—Florida has set a new record, achieving the highest graduation rate in the state's history. 

The class of 2025 reached this milestone, with 92% of students graduating during the 2024-2025 school year. This achievement also extended to Southwest Florida, where school districts broke their own records.

Jersey Ritz, a graduate from East Lee County High School, was part of the record-setting graduating class for the School District of Lee County.

"I gave my speech, and I walked, I was kind of just like, 'Whoa!' Like, I finally finished," Ritz said. "Like, all those years of hard work, all those years of just staying up late, studying, cramming."

Ritz expressed her excitement over the accomplishment.

"I feel really proud, honestly," she said. "Really nice to know that I was a part of such a big achievement for Lee County, because it's not something that we see every day."

The district achieved its highest-ever graduation rate, with 89.8% of high school students graduating in the 2024-2025 school year.

"We are so over the moon and excited about the increase in our students' graduation rate," said Denise Carlin, Ed.D, superintendent for the district. "About a year, 2 years ago, we were at 85.8%, now we're at 89.8%, so that is a 4% jump in one year, which is the largest jump we've ever had."

Other county school districts in Southwest Florida also saw improvements. Collier County topped the list with 94.4%, Charlotte County at 91.6%, Hendry County at 82%, Glades County at 89.9%, and DeSoto County at 77.8%.

Superintendent Carlin explained how Lee County reached this historic milestone.

"Talking with our principals, it's things like paying attention to the individual student," she said. "Where are they at? What tests have they passed? Which ones have they not taken to graduate? How about GPA, looking at their grade point average? Do they need credit retrieval?"

She emphasized that their goal is always to reach 100%, but acknowledged it as a work in progress.

"Really just working on those graduation requirements, working on the reading requirements, the math requirements, coming up with new and creative and innovative ways to help our students learn," said Nathan Shaker, Ed.D, chief academic officer for the School District of Lee County.

Ritz highlighted the importance of support systems in achieving graduation success.

"I think that's one of the most important things in high school, is you need people," she said. "You need people to support you. And having a support system is so important."