Data Editor
Evan BrooksData Editor
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High school graduation is one of the most consequential milestones in a young person's life. Counties where significant numbers of students do not graduate face education, workforce, and civic challenges that can affect entire communities.
The national average graduation rate is 87.5%. We identified the 25 counties that fall furthest below this benchmark in the current dataset. These records flag counties where high school completion deserves closer review in state and local sources.
The 25 Counties with the Lowest Graduation Rates
Ranked by graduation rate from lowest to highest.
Rank
1
County
- State
- Louisiana
- Graduation Rate
- 4.0%
- School Score
- 32.3
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $8,066
Rank
2
County
- State
- South Dakota
- Graduation Rate
- 5.0%
- School Score
- 42
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $9,701
Rank
3
County
- State
- Louisiana
- Graduation Rate
- 18.0%
- School Score
- 28.4
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $7,707
Rank
4
County
- State
- Georgia
- Graduation Rate
- 21.5%
- School Score
- 0.8
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $5,074
Rank
5
County
- State
- Georgia
- Graduation Rate
- 27.5%
- School Score
- 9.7
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $6,240
Rank
6
County
- State
- Oregon
- Graduation Rate
- 33.6%
- School Score
- 0.4
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $4,865
Rank
7
County
- State
- Georgia
- Graduation Rate
- 36.3%
- School Score
- 37.6
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $8,733
Rank
8
County
- State
- Louisiana
- Graduation Rate
- 42.0%
- School Score
- 42
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $9,640
Rank
9
County
- State
- Wyoming
- Graduation Rate
- 42.0%
- School Score
- 11.5
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $6,387
Rank
10
County
- State
- Louisiana
- Graduation Rate
- 47.0%
- School Score
- 27
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $7,579
Rank
11
County
- State
- Washington
- Graduation Rate
- 48.5%
- School Score
- 44.4
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $10,380
Rank
12
County
- State
- Michigan
- Graduation Rate
- 49.7%
- School Score
- 9.3
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $6,201
Rank
13
County
- State
- Idaho
- Graduation Rate
- 52.0%
- School Score
- 35.6
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $8,458
Rank
14
County
- State
- Washington
- Graduation Rate
- 52.1%
- School Score
- 42.6
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $9,769
Rank
15
County
- State
- Minnesota
- Graduation Rate
- 53.1%
- School Score
- 43.3
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $9,978
Rank
16
County
- State
- Alaska
- Graduation Rate
- 57.7%
- School Score
- 48.4
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $13,032
Rank
17
County
- State
- Colorado
- Graduation Rate
- 57.9%
- School Score
- 1.2
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $5,152
Rank
18
County
- State
- Nebraska
- Graduation Rate
- 58.4%
- School Score
- 41.4
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $9,444
Rank
19
County
- State
- Michigan
- Graduation Rate
- 58.9%
- School Score
- 3.8
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $5,655
Rank
20
County
- State
- South Dakota
- Graduation Rate
- 61.0%
- School Score
- 24.8
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $7,391
Rank
21
County
- State
- Ohio
- Graduation Rate
- 61.4%
- School Score
- 12.5
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $6,444
Rank
22
County
- State
- South Dakota
- Graduation Rate
- 62.0%
- School Score
- 28.7
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $7,709
Rank
23
County
- State
- Michigan
- Graduation Rate
- 63.4%
- School Score
- 18.2
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $6,912
Rank
24
County
- State
- Alaska
- Graduation Rate
- 63.7%
- School Score
- 49.6
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $14,876
Rank
25
County
- State
- South Dakota
- Graduation Rate
- 64.0%
- School Score
- 28.6
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $7,706
| Rank | County | State | Graduation Rate | School Score | Per-Pupil Spending |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morehouse Parish | Louisiana | 4.0% | 32.3 | $8,066 |
| 2 | Oglala Lakota County | South Dakota | 5.0% | 42 | $9,701 |
| 3 | Sabine Parish | Louisiana | 18.0% | 28.4 | $7,707 |
| 4 | Candler County | Georgia | 21.5% | 0.8 | $5,074 |
| 5 | White County | Georgia | 27.5% | 9.7 | $6,240 |
| 6 | Wheeler County | Oregon | 33.6% | 0.4 | $4,865 |
| 7 | Clarke County | Georgia | 36.3% | 37.6 | $8,733 |
| 8 | Red River Parish | Louisiana | 42.0% | 42 | $9,640 |
| 9 | Niobrara County | Wyoming | 42.0% | 11.5 | $6,387 |
| 10 | East Feliciana Parish | Louisiana | 47.0% | 27 | $7,579 |
| 11 | Ferry County | Washington | 48.5% | 44.4 | $10,380 |
| 12 | Montcalm County | Michigan | 49.7% | 9.3 | $6,201 |
| 13 | Clearwater County | Idaho | 52.0% | 35.6 | $8,458 |
| 14 | Clallam County | Washington | 52.1% | 42.6 | $9,769 |
| 15 | Mahnomen County | Minnesota | 53.1% | 43.3 | $9,978 |
| 16 | Bethel Census Area | Alaska | 57.7% | 48.4 | $13,032 |
| 17 | Bent County | Colorado | 57.9% | 1.2 | $5,152 |
| 18 | Dawes County | Nebraska | 58.4% | 41.4 | $9,444 |
| 19 | Manistee County | Michigan | 58.9% | 3.8 | $5,655 |
| 20 | Brule County | South Dakota | 61.0% | 24.8 | $7,391 |
| 21 | Marion County | Ohio | 61.4% | 12.5 | $6,444 |
| 22 | Todd County | South Dakota | 62.0% | 28.7 | $7,709 |
| 23 | Berrien County | Michigan | 63.4% | 18.2 | $6,912 |
| 24 | Kusilvak Census Area | Alaska | 63.7% | 49.6 | $14,876 |
| 25 | Bennett County | South Dakota | 64.0% | 28.6 | $7,706 |
Ranking Data Profile
Within this lowest graduation rate list, values run from 4.0% to 64.0%, with a median of 52.0%. This range matters because counties near the middle of the table can be closer to each other than the rank numbers suggest.
Louisiana contributes 4 of the 25 counties in this table. State clustering can point to funding formulas, reporting practices, district geography, or regional enrollment patterns that deserve local review.
0 ranked counties lack a reported graduation-rate value in this table, and 0 lack a reported per-pupil spending value. Missing companion fields are shown as not reported rather than estimated.
Regional Pattern in This Ranking
The most represented states are Louisiana (4), South Dakota (4), and Georgia (3), together accounting for 11 of 25 counties in the table. County school metrics are shaped by state finance rules, state graduation reporting, district boundaries, enrollment scale, and regional labor markets.
For a lowest graduation rate list, state clustering is a research cue rather than an explanation. Compare counties inside the same state first, then use national comparisons once the state baseline is clear.
Notable Counties in the Table
The ranking rows are linked to county profiles so each record can be checked against school lists, district context, and local source notes. These rows show the range inside the table:
- Morehouse Parish, LA ranks #1 with a graduation rate of 4.0%; related signals show School Score 32.3 and $8,066 per pupil.
- Oglala Lakota County, SD ranks #2 with a graduation rate of 5.0%; related signals show School Score 42 and $9,701 per pupil.
- Sabine Parish, LA ranks #3 with a graduation rate of 18.0%; related signals show School Score 28.4 and $7,707 per pupil.
- Candler County, GA ranks #4 with a graduation rate of 21.5%; related signals show School Score 0.8 and $5,074 per pupil.
- White County, GA ranks #5 with a graduation rate of 27.5%; related signals show School Score 9.7 and $6,240 per pupil.
How to Use This Ranking
Rankings are useful when they help you decide where to look next. They are weaker when treated as a final verdict on a county or school system.
- Use the lowest graduation-rate ranking as a completion signal, then verify cohort rules, alternative programs, transfers, and local accountability notes in state sources.
- Compare graduation rate with per-pupil spending and School Score; a strong or weak completion rate is easier to interpret with finance context beside it.
- Review school-level records for attendance, coursework, and support programs before drawing conclusions about a specific district.
Data Caveats for Graduation Rate Rankings
A lowest graduation-rate rank describes reported four-year completion, not coursework rigor or postsecondary readiness. Counties with similar rates can still differ in attendance, credit recovery, advanced classes, and career pathways.
State report cards are the best next source for subgroup data, cohort definitions, and local accountability notes that are not visible in county-level NCES tables.
Important
A county graduation rate below 70% means more than a quarter of the entering cohort was not reported as graduating within four years. The metric is a warning signal for further local review, not a complete explanation of why students did not complete.
What Drives Low Graduation Rates?
Education research and state accountability reports often point to overlapping factors in counties with low graduation rates:
- Economic context: Local labor markets, household income, and student mobility can affect completion rates.
- Academic support: State report cards can show whether students are falling behind before high school.
- Transportation and geography: Rural districts may face distance and attendance challenges that county averages do not explain.
- Alternative programs: Adult education, GED pathways, transfers, and alternative schools can affect how a cohort is reported.
- School climate: Attendance, discipline, and survey data from local sources can add context beyond the NCES completion metric.
Methodology
Graduation rate data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data, using the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR). The national average of 87.5% is based on the most recent available NCES release. Counties with missing or suppressed data were excluded.
Sources and Review
Data vintage: NCES 2022-23 public school and school-finance releases. Data sources are selected for this article's metric focus. County figures are informational estimates and may differ from other published analyses due to methodology, aggregation, suppression, or reporting-year differences. Last editorial review checked source links, data vintage, visible caveats, and county-profile links.
Continue the Research
Use this article as a starting point, then verify county-level signals against official district and state records.