Over 1,300 seniors graduate from Columbia Public Schools

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Hundreds of 2023 seniors graduated across Columbia over the weekend.

Through four different high school ceremonies, over 1,300 students crossed the stage to receive their long-awaited diplomas.

Frederick Douglass High School graduated Friday morning at the Missouri Theatre. David H. Hickman High School’s graduation followed later that night at Mizzou Arena. The ceremony for the senior class of Muriel W. Battle High School was held Saturday afternoon at Mizzou Arena, and Rock Bridge High School’s ceremony finished the CPS graduations Saturday evening.

According to the numbers from Columbia Public School’s head counts, the Class of 2023 started ninth grade with 1,458 students. By the fall of the 2022-2023 school year, that number changes to 1,361 students. 

CPS spokesperson Michelle Baumstark reported 1,331 students would walk from the district. Also about 91% of students from the original class size– not taking into account kids moving to and from the area over the four years.

That percentage is also pretty close to Columbia Public School’s overall future graduation goals. In its five-year school improvement plan– it estimated at least 92% of students will graduate within four years by the 2026-2027 school year.

Also according to that plan, last year’s graduation rate for the class of 2022 was 90%, while the class of 2021’s graduation rate was reported at 89%. According to statewide numbers for 2022, Missouri’s overall graduation rate was 91.16%. 

CPS added official graduation numbers will be available this fall.