SDUSD: Students see increased graduation rates, college and career preparedness 

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- The San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) released new data showing schools have seen an increase in graduation rates and college/career preparedness since 2024.  

The class of 2025 saw a 2% increase in graduation rates compared to their peers last year, increasing from 88.3% to 90.2%. San Diego students’ college and career preparedness increased 4.2%, with 62.9% in 2024 to 67.1% in 2025.  

Preparedness is measured by students taking “a-g” courses that help students' eligibility into California State Universities, receiving college credit through partnerships with higher educational programs and completing career technical education (CTE). 

“It is encouraging to see this level improvement, but we have a lot more work to do to ensure every student graduates from our high schools prepared to experience a choice-filled life,” Superintendent Fabi Bagula said in a news release.  

The graduation rate is the highest it’s been since 2022 (90.4%). Bagula believes these “modest rises” are in part due to the district’s data monitoring and collaborative support systems. 

Despite the increase in preparedness, since 2024, there was a 0.9% decrease in students choosing to take the CTE track. 

On average, CTE programs help students have higher chances of graduating high school and going to college, according to the California Department of Education. 

The district said they are attempting to increase CTA completion across San Diego schools. 

“We’re going to leverage the expertise of instructional coordinators who will be able to better guide our students and families as they decide if the CTE pathway is the right one for them,” SDUSD Executive Director Jen Roberson said. 

Leaders in San Diego Unified plan to address these recent numbers and share goals for the district at the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday.