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Graduating students and staff wear protective masks during the ceremony. Teachers from Emmerich Manuel High School handed out diplomas and gifts during the drive-thru ceremony on May 30.
Lauren Chapman/IPB NewsIndiana's high school graduation rate held steady in 2020, according to new data from the State Department of Education.
For some student groups, the percentage of high school graduates increased compared to 2019, despite spring disruptions caused by COVID-19.
2020 data shows schools graduated a higher percentage of English Language and special education students, at 86 percent and 77 percent respectively. The percentage of students on free or reduced price meals who graduated also went up, reaching 86 percent.
READ MORE: How Will Indiana Distribute COVID-19 Vaccines? Here's What You Need To Know
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Indiana charter schools also graduated a higher percentage of students in 2020 compared to 2019, with an increase of about 4 percentage points.
Overall, the state's 2020 graduation rate landed at roughly 87 percent, about the same as the year before. That translates to about 69,441 students who graduated from public schools during the pandemic.
Contact reporter Jeanie at jlindsa@iu.edu or follow her on Twitter at @jeanjeanielindz.
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