Focus on career readiness fuels Native American graduation gains at federally funded schools

Focus on career readiness fuels Native American graduation gains at federally funded schools, describing how stronger job-focused programs are contributing to improved outcomes for students in Bureau of Indian Education schools. The report follows Gerald Dillon, 18, from the Puyallup Reservation, who shifted from minimal effort to career training during his junior year, later graduating in June from Chief Leschi Schools in Washington and considering a teaching degree. Administrators attribute progress to greater emphasis on technical training and career readiness, including more students staying enrolled and graduating on time. Across the U.S. Bureau of Indian Education, which oversees 183 schools serving more than 40,000 students, on-time graduation rose from just over half in 2015 to a record 79% by 2025. Officials say changes to graduation data reporting—standardized starting in 2018—have improved accuracy, with an AP analysis finding a 55% overall increase. The article also raises concerns that potential policy shifts under the Trump administration could disrupt momentum.