PITTSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT DR. WAYNE WALTERS, SHOWN IN THIS PHOTO RECEIVING THE G.I.B.S.O.N. EDUCATION AWARD AT THE JOSH GIBSON FOUNDATION 2024 GALA IN OCTOBER. ALSO PICTURED ARE PPS BOARD MEMBERS DEVON TALIAFERRO AND SYLVIA WILSON.
Latest data shows 83.3 percent, almost a 9 percent jump from 2021
African American high school graduate rates at Pittsburgh Public Schools have increased drastically over the past three years, to the tune of nearly 9 percent, the New Pittsburgh Courier has learned. While there is more work to be done, smiles are being seen from the Pittsburgh Public Schools Administration Building, to the Black graduates themselves.
In 2021, 74.6 percent of Black high school students graduated. In 2022, the number increased to 81.2 percent, and in 2023, it reached 83.3 percent. The 83.3 percent rate is still lower than the overall PPS graduate rate of 86.1 in 2023, but the gap has been drastically lessened from the gap in 2021, when the Black graduate rate (74.6) was almost 7 percentage points lower than the overall number (81.5). Today, the gap is less than three points.
The data from the state shows that the overall graduation rate for PPS increased as well, from 81.5 to 86.1 from 2021-2023.
The 83.3 percent rate for African American students in 2023 was about 8 percentage points lower than the White students’ graduation rate in 2023, which was 91.0.
What can be attributed to the jump in graduation rates in the PPS district? The district itself, in a press release dated Dec. 4, said that its “recent financial investments have significantly improved student-to-counselor ratios,” bringing the district closer to the American School Counselor Association’s recommended ratio of 250:1. PPS said its average ratio is now no more than 350:1, a big improvement from the previous 699:1.
What else has the district done? According to PPS, the Pittsburgh Promise is funding “Promise Coaches” in Carrick, Milliones, Perry and Westinghouse high schools. “These coaches work directly with students to ensure they have a clear post-secondary plan upon graduation, further supporting the District’s commitment to preparing students for success beyond high school,” the district said in a news release.
In a school district that has Black students as the majority, graduation rates for Black students is always going to be top of mind — for parents, for administrators and for school district watchdogs. Currently, Black students account for 50 percent of the 18,312 students currently in the district. White students account for 30 percent.
Dr. Wayne Walters, superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools, said in a statement to the Courier that there are three strategies the district will implement to reduce equity gaps and continue to surpass its yearly targets. They include: Standardized Communication and Engagement: Ensuring consistent communication about graduation expectations across all high schools; Structured Documentation Process: Monitoring student progress with actionable insights improved transparency and targeted interventions; and a Graduation Mentorship Program: Providing focused, immediate, support for seniors —particularly African American students, English Language Learners (ELL), and students with IEPs—through mentorship, family engagement, and celebrating progress.
Speaking on the increase in graduation rates, Dr. Walters said in a statement dated Dec. 4: “This achievement is a testament to the hard work of our students, the dedication of our educators, and the commitment of our entire school community to ensuring every student reaches their full potential.”
The Courier has learned that there are nearly 1,100 current twelfth graders in Pittsburgh Public Schools, led by Allderdice’s 361 students and Brashear’s 207 students. The district said they’re working hard to make sure the class of 2025, which includes the roughly 1,100 current seniors, has the highest graduate rate as possible, with rates increasing year after year.
“We’re working hard to adjust our practices based on the data we have,” Dr. Walters said in a statement dated Dec. 9, “and are doing everything we can to create a brighter future for each and every student.”
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