Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) publishes cohort graduation outcomes for public schools. The data tracks percentages of students graduating within 4 or 5 years, dropping out, attaining a GED, or being excluded. It is sourced from the educationtocareer.data.mass.gov platform and was last updated on March 6, 2026.
Use Cases
- Analyze graduation disparities across student groups using GRAD_PCT, STU_GRP, and COHORT_CNT.
- Compare dropout rates between districts using DRPOUT_PCT, DIST_NAME, and SY.
- Model cohort outcomes by calculating non-graduate categories from NON_GRAD_PCT, IN_SCH_PCT, GED_PCT, and EXCLUD_PCT.
- Identify trends in graduation rates over time using SY, GRAD_RATE_TYPE, and GRAD_PCT.
Strengths
- Data includes granular breakdowns of cohort outcomes into six distinct categories (GRAD_PCT, NON_GRAD_PCT, IN_SCH_PCT, GED_PCT, DRPOUT_PCT, EXCLUD_PCT).
- Provides school and district-level identifiers (ORG_NAME, DIST_NAME, ORG_CODE, DIST_CODE) for detailed geographic analysis.
- Categorizes students by demographic groups (STU_GRP) enabling equity-focused research.
Limitations
- Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
- Freshness should be verified as the last update timestamp is March 6, 2026.
Provenance
- Source
- Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), via educationtocareer.data.mass.gov.
- Collection Method
- Likely compiled from state-mandated reporting by Massachusetts public schools.
- Freshness
- Last updated 2026-03-06 22:30:58.
- Geography
- Massachusetts public schools.