- Alachua County Public Schools' on-time graduation rate rose to 93.9% in 2025, up from 92.7% in 2024 and nearly 4 points higher than two years ago.
- All seven traditional ACPS high schools achieved graduation rates above 90%, with PAM at Loften leading at 96.7% in 2025.
- The overall graduation rate in Alachua County public schools, including charter and special needs schools, increased from 84.1% in 2024 to 87.7% in 2025.
- Florida's statewide high school graduation rate hit a record 92.2% for 2024-25, rising 2.2 points from 2024 and 4.9 points since 2021-22.
Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) reported a jump in the percentage of students graduating on time from its traditional high schools during the 2024-25 school year.
According to an ACPS press release sent on Tuesday, the district’s on-time graduation rate in ACPS-run high schools reached 93.9% in 2025 – up from 92.7% in 2024 and almost four percentage points higher than just two years ago. All seven of the district’s traditional high schools – Buchholz, Eastside, Gainesville, Hawthorne, Newberry, Professional Academies Magnet (PAM) at Loften and Santa Fe – posted on-time graduation rates above 90%.
“We’re pleased that the percentage of students graduating on time from Alachua County Public Schools continues to rise,” interim Superintendent Kamela Patton said in the ACPS release. “This progress is a testament to the dedication of our educators – from elementary through middle and high school – who work every day to prepare students at all grade levels for success.”
The release states that PAM at Loften had ACPS’ highest on-time graduation rate at 96.7%, while Hawthorne Middle High School recorded the biggest year-over-year increase, jumping from 82% in 2024 to 94.1% in 2025. Santa Fe High School posted the district’s second-largest gain, climbing from 86.4% to 90.1%.
The 2025 on-time graduation rates for ACPS’s remaining traditional high schools are listed below.
- Newberry – 96.1%
- Buchholz – 95.6%
- Gainesville – 93.7%
- Eastside – 92.2%
The overall graduation rate for all publicly funded schools serving 12th-grade students in Alachua County – including independently operated charter schools and schools serving students with special needs – also increased, rising from 84.1% in 2024 to 87.7% in 2025, according to the release.
Gov. Ron DeSantis also announced on Tuesday during his final State of the State address that Florida’s high school graduation rate for the 2024-25 school year was 92.2% – the state’s highest rate ever.
According to a Florida Department of Education (FDOE) press release, Florida’s graduation rate increased 2.2 percentage points over 2024 and has risen by 4.9 percentage points since 2021-22.
“Florida’s historic graduation rate reflects the power of Governor [Ron] DeSantis’ strong leadership, clear expectations, and unwavering commitment to student success,” Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas said in the release. “These achievements demonstrate what can be accomplished when we uphold rigorous standards, provide robust support to schools and prepare every student for success beyond graduation.”
More information regarding Florida’s graduation rates can be found here.