ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) — Graduation rates in the Ithaca City School District are down.

Tuesday on Ithaca’s Morning News, Superintendent Dr. Luvelle Brown said the trend isn’t specific to Ithaca. “Last year’s class was the class that began 9th grade in the middle of a pandemic,” Brown told WHCU’s Joe Salzone. “We’re seeing across our state and county and country that the graduation rate has significantly decreased. Attendance has been down.”

“The pandemic changed schools,” Brown continued. “We are still seeking to get young people back in our buildings on time.”

The trends, Brown stated, aren’t entirely gloomy.

“Our graduation rate is not in the 90+percent. It used to be in the mid 90s but we’re doing OK. Chronic absenteeism is getting back where we need it to be,” Brown added.

According to data published on the ICSD 2025 State of the District page, the 4-year graduation rate for Ithaca’s school district 83.8%. In August 2019, the district’s graduation rate was 86.9%.

FULL INTERVIEW: ICSD Superintendent Dr. Luvelle Brown on Ithaca’s Morning News