Native American graduation rates hit a record high but tribal leaders fear Trump-era cuts could reverse the gains

July 14, 2026 - 21:38

Graduation rates for Native American students attending federal schools have climbed to an all-time high, marking a major milestone for a community that has long struggled with educational disparities. The Bureau of Indian Education, which oversees roughly 40,000 students across 183 schools, reported that the graduation rate hit a record level in 2024, building on steady improvements that began around 2015. Officials credit targeted investments, culturally relevant curricula, and better support for at-risk students for the turnaround.

But the celebration is tempered by deep anxiety. Tribal leaders and education advocates warn that the gains could be wiped out if the incoming Trump administration follows through on promises to dismantle the Department of Education and slash federal funding for Native programs. The DOE provides critical oversight and funding for BIE schools, which are often located in remote, impoverished areas with limited resources. Without that support, many schools could lose staff, cut programs, and see dropout rates climb again.

"We have finally started to see our kids succeed, and now we are being told the rug might be pulled out from under us," said one tribal education director. "These are not just numbers. These are our children, our future leaders." The fear is not hypothetical: during Trump's first term, his administration proposed deep cuts to the BIE budget, though Congress ultimately rejected most of them. This time, with a more aggressive push to shrink federal education involvement, tribal nations are bracing for a fight. For now, the record graduation rate stands as a fragile victory, one that could be undone by policy decisions made far from the reservation.