Kenai Peninsula graduates 84.1% of Class of 2026, but slides use last year's state rates

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District graduated 84.1% of its Class of 2026 in four years, beating the statewide rate of 80.52%, according to state figures. District leaders will present the numbers to the school board Monday.

The biggest gains came in the groups with the lowest rates last year. According to the district's presentation, the graduation rate for students with disabilities rose 11.22 points from last year, and the rate for homeless students rose 10.97 points.

The slides also say the district beat the state in all five student groups it tracks. But the state rates on those slides are from the Class of 2025, not 2026.

Measured against this year's state figures, the district is still ahead in four of the five groups. Students with disabilities graduated at 75.6% in the district, against 59.7% statewide. Homeless students graduated at 71%, against 64.6%. Alaska Native and American Indian students graduated at 75.5%, against 69.63%, and economically disadvantaged students at 75.8%, against 74.27%.

English learners are the exception. The district put its rate at 69.2% and the state's at 68.3%, last year's figure. This year's statewide rate is 73.91%.

The district's own rates for each group come only from the district. The state publishes those breakdowns statewide, not district by district.

Overall, the district's rate dipped slightly from 85.01% last year, but it's up 7 points since 2022. The state's figures show it graduated 566 of 673 students. Among other large districts, Juneau graduated 90.65%, Mat-Su 85.22%, Anchorage 83.81% and Fairbanks 82.98%.

Five high schools topped the district rate: Ninilchik, where all five students graduated, Seward at 95.5%, Soldotna at 92.2%, Homer at 92.1% and Kenai Central at 90.9%. The district's alternative programs came in lower, with small classes. Connections graduated 130 of 170 students, Homer Flex 8 of 14 and Kenai Alternative 3 of 20.

The presentation says the district will build stronger early warning systems for homeless students and English learners, the two groups it says are still below its overall rate.