Lancaster Ninth-Grade Passing Rate Hits Decade High
The School District of Lancaster reported its highest ninth-grade passing rate since 2015-16 as attendance slipped and chronic absenteeism rose.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Secondary Education
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The School District of Lancaster reported that 91.1% of ninth graders are passing this year, up from 90% last year and the highest rate since 2015-16. Daily attendance dipped from 91.2% to 91% while chronic absenteeism rose from 26.2% to 26.9%.
Why it matters
The gains in passing rates come alongside a widening gap in attendance, with economically disadvantaged students missing school at far higher rates than their peers. For Lancaster families, the figures highlight both academic progress and persistent barriers to consistent classroom time.
The district's passing rate and attendance figures are internal enrollment measures reported to the school board. Economically disadvantaged students miss school at 29.4%, compared with 8.9% chronic absenteeism among non-disadvantaged pupils, a 20.5% attendance gap.
The players
School District of Lancaster
The public school district serving Lancaster, which reported the academic and attendance results to its board.
J. P. McCaskey High School
A Lancaster public high school that offers AP and IB courses and plans new classes including a drone technology course.
The details
Icy roads during the 2025-26 school year added several days of remote learning, contributing to absences. In-school suspensions fell from 1,603 to 1,286 and out-of-school suspensions dropped from 1,541 to 1,332 between 2024 and 2025.
Timeline
2015-16: Previous highest ninth-grade passing rate benchmark.
2024 to 2025: Suspensions declined in both categories.
Nov. 4, 2026: School board received the district's results report.
Nov. 10, 2026: Next school board meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Season Trajectory
The 91.1% passing rate is the district's highest since the 2015-16 school year, setting a new recent benchmark for ninth-grade performance. Attendance and absenteeism moved in the opposite direction, leaving the district's gains dependent on sustaining classroom time.
Families in Lancaster should expect McCaskey to add a half-credit drone technology course next year and six new classes, including an IB higher-level dance course. Students in certain AP or IB courses will be able to take exams for college credit.
The takeaway
Consistent daily attendance is the clearest lever for closing the gap between economically disadvantaged students and their peers, even as passing rates climb.
What happens next
The school board's next meeting is set for Nov. 10, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
Further reading
Explore more on Secondary Education for context on high school performance and attendance in Lancaster.
Source note: This article includes information reported by LancasterOnline.
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