Skip To Main Content

PHS grad rate soars

A girl claps during the graduation ceremony

Class of 2024 graduates at 95% clip, well above state average again

January 30, 2025

PHOENIX – New graduation data released today by the Oregon Department of Education highlighted Phoenix High School as one of the state’s bright spots as 94.8% of the school’s class of 2024 graduated on time, placing the school well above the state average of 81.8%.

PHS also topped state averages last year in several key demographics, with 92.8% the school’s Hispanic/Latino students graduating on time in addition to solid on-time graduation rates for students experiencing poverty (94.8%), students with disabilities (86.7%) and English learners (94.1%). 

Factoring in Armadillo Community Charter School’s 42.9% on-time graduation rate, the Phoenix-Talent School District’s graduation rate as a whole for 2024 was 86.7%. 

Phoenix High’s on-time graduation rate reflects its commitment to helping students reach the finish line, as PHS has now recorded a 95% on-time graduation rate three out of the last four years after hitting 93% in 2020. The class of 2024's high marks are particularly impressive considering they began their freshman year online and reeling from both the pandemic and the September 2020 Almeda fire.

“I can’t say enough about the staff and students at PHS – they just continue to make this community so proud,” Phoenix-Talent School District superintendent Brent Barry said. “We have two incredible graduation coaches at the high school, Jesus Ledezma and Skylar Glines, as well as academic advisors and, of course, a group of teachers who care deeply about helping students reach their goals. That’s why we have Ford Scholars every year, that’s why our students are awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of scholarships, and that’s why almost every senior walks across the stage on graduation day.”

Barry also credited Phoenix High’s seven Career and Technical Education programs – more than 95% of the school’s 149 CTE participants with the 2023-24 cohort graduated on time – as well as its award-winning art program and “an incredible” leadership crew led by principal Kalin Cross and assistant principals Erika Ochoa and James Joy. The ag science/FFA program is building something special, Barry noted, and the new partnership between Mercy Flights and the high school’s emergency services class – led by teacher Carolena Campbell – is already a big hit with students.

“Public education is a team sport, families included,” Barry added, “and PTS has a truly great team.”

Digging into the numbers Phoenix High had several cohorts that exceeded state averages, including: 

  • Former English learners (94.3%), students who have successfully completed English Learner programs prior to entering high school in Oregon
  • Migrant students (over 95%)
  • Underserved race/ethnicities (91.9%)

For more information about Oregon’s 2023-24 graduation rates, please visit the Oregon Department of Education’s cohort graduation rate webpage.

  • PTS District News
  • PTS Front Page