Denfeld High School makes significant gains in graduation rates

Duluth Public Schools is celebrating significant progress in graduation rates at Denfeld High School, which saw an increase of 7.85% overall. 

“Our improving graduation rates are a great affirmation of the hard work our students put into their education with the support of their families. Denfeld has a hardworking, caring, innovative and dedicated staff that meet our students where they are and create the foundation for this success,” said Denfeld Principal Tom Tusken. “This achievement is a testament to the collaborative and continual effort by everyone in the Denfeld community!”

Denfeld High School's overall graduation rate for 2025 was 84.77%. The school also saw an increase by double digits for their free/reduced meal students (+11.92%), homeless students (+28.21%), American Indian students (+11.57%), and students of two or more races (+14.91%). 

"This significant improvement in graduation rates is a direct result of the collective efforts from our dedicated teachers, support staff, and administration, our engaged families, and most importantly, our hardworking students, stated Assistant Superintendent Anthony Bonds. “We have purposefully supported this success by making significant investments in professional development for all staff, and by prioritizing human and fiscal resources to enhance the high school schedule with additional classes and critical curriculum resources. I am very pleased with this forward progress, and I want to assure our community that we are fully committed to continuing to improve academic outcomes for every student."

East High School graduation rates increase by 0.49% overall, with increases for free/reduced meal students (+2.76%) and white students (+0.98%). The graduation rate for students of two or more races at East remained steady at 93.75%. Data for other ethnicities is not publicly available due to the groups representing less than 10 students. 

"Our 2025 graduation results are a testament to our intentional focus on student-centered systems. We are especially proud of our Check & Connect mentors; their high-fidelity implementation of this intervention has not only supported our students but has established Duluth as a statewide model for effective secondary support,” said Jen Larva, Director of Secondary Education. “Alongside these targeted interventions, our district-wide commitment to Tier 1 strategies, such as 'Clarity for Learning,' ensures every student benefits from clear learning targets and success criteria. By combining rigorous instructional clarity with the personalized advocacy of our mentors, we are ensuring more students than ever reach the graduation stage."

The district wide four-year graduation rate increased 1.24% for all students, 3.41% for free/reduced meal students, 10.82% for homeless students, 1.34% for hispanic or latino students, and 2.52% for white students. These encouraging results reflect the dedication of students, staff, and families and demonstrate the positive impact of focused support and efforts to ensure all students have the tools they need to succeed.

"These remarkable, ongoing improvements in graduation rates across Duluth are a testament to the tireless efforts of our students, staff, and families, working together to build a stronger future for every student every day,” said Superintendent John Magas. "While we recognize there's more to do and are deeply committed to continued improvement, these rates clearly demonstrate that Duluth Public Schools are on the rise."

2025 Duluth Public Schools Graduation Data