Connecticut Freshman On-Track Graduation Rates Rise

Statewide data shows significant recovery for high school freshmen reaching their highest on-track levels since 2019.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Secondary Education

Connecticut Freshman On-Track Graduation Rates Rise

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Do you trust your local schools to keep freshmen on track for high school graduation?

Freshman on-track graduation rates in Connecticut have climbed to their highest level since the 2019-2020 school year. This metric measures the percentage of ninth-grade students who have completed at least six of the 25 credits required for graduation.

Why it matters

Ninth grade academic success is a primary indicator for high school persistence and long-term graduation likelihood. Tracking these students helps schools identify and support those at risk of falling behind before they reach higher grade levels.

Derby High School reached a 95 percent on-track rate for freshmen, up from a pandemic-era low of 59 percent in 2020-2021. Notably, the cohort receiving free or reduced-price lunch at the school reached a 100 percent on-track rate.

The players

Connecticut Department of Education

This state agency oversees public education and manages the collection of performance metrics for all school districts in Connecticut.

Derby High School

This public secondary school serves students in Derby and has recently implemented new mentoring and teacher-cohort programs to support freshman academic success.

The details

Derby High School achieved these gains by establishing an advisory block that connects students with mentors and creating a cohort of teachers dedicated to ninth-grade classes. The school also implemented a school spirit competition to help improve student engagement and classroom success.

2019-2020: The previous high-water mark for freshman on-track rates in Connecticut.
2020-2021: A period marked by pandemic-era declines in student on-track performance.
2025-2026: The school year during which Enfield and Windsor districts continued to report lower on-track rates.

Culture Shift

The current uptick in freshman on-track rates marks a definitive departure from the educational instability documented during the 2020-2021 pandemic-era decline in secondary education persistence. This shift suggests a move toward specialized support models that prioritize student engagement early in their high school careers.

Parents and students can use these metrics to assess the efficacy of support programs currently offered by their local districts. Increased on-track rates may signal the presence of effective mentorship and teacher-led interventions that help keep students on a path toward graduation.

The takeaway

The success at Derby High School highlights the impact of dedicated freshman teacher cohorts and mentorship programs on academic outcomes. Families in other districts should look for similar institutional support structures when evaluating their own school success metrics.