North High set to exceed state standards in graduation rates

Kennedy Robinson gets help with her grad cap from her classmate Doretha Landers during senior picture day. Photo by Azhae’la Hanson

By Azhae’la Hanson, Reporter

In 2023, North High School's graduation rate was 68%, more than 20 points below the state average.

Within two years, North High had sharply narrowed the gap. As of April 2025, its graduation rate had risen to

81%, just 4 percentage points below the state average. If that progress continues, the school could soon exceed the state average.

While the numbers for the class of 2026 are still being crunched, North High attributes the growth to the implementation of advanced academics, dedicated teaching and support staff, and community investment.

(Pick up a copy of the May 29 North News to see the list of high school graduates from North Minneapolis)

Small class sizes were also what make North High a special place for students and teachers, according to Principal Mauri Friestleben. With looming budget cuts from MPS, she is worried about what that means for this uptick in success.

“We can no longer afford to have smaller class sizes,” Friestleben said. She said the average class size of a high school in Minneapolis was about 34-35 students. The average class size at North's was around 25.

Because of smaller class sizes, they were able to put the extra money into making sure the school had a strong support team

“With these budget cuts for next year, we just had to let that go,” she said. “So right now, we're looking at class sizes that look like the rest of the district. We’re nervous, because 35 kids that are all going through a lot, that are kind of concentrated in a community that struggles with disassociation or disenfranchisement… It's a little anxiety-inducing to think about 35 kids in a class at North next year.”

Having a class size of over 20 students at North High was almost unheard of just a decade ago. The school reopened in 2010 after a threat of closure due to low attendance. When it opened its doors, the first class was less than 100 students.

North High hosted a decision day celebration and brunch for seniors in May, when a group of University of Minnesota commits gathered for a photo. Photo by Azhae’la Hanson

That group thrived in small classrooms where more attention could be given to students.

“The downside to that was a larger lack of opportunity,” said Breanna Baylis, a North counselor. “l was a member of the first returning class.” Throughout her high school career, she said she had fewer than five options for advanced classes at North High School.

In May, she welcomed her senior students to a morning brunch to celebrate their approaching graduation.

“I did not have these opportunities when I went here,” she said. “North is on the rise.”

In contrast, a group of seniors at the brunch recalled how they began filling their schedules with AP and advanced classes from their very first semester at North High. As of 2025, 34% of North High’s students were enrolled in advanced placement (AP) classes.

Stories floated around at the brunch about a group of students who met their freshman year in AP classes and formed a pact to take them all together. This June, those will be walking across the stage as the top performing academically.

“When I was just so close to giving up on school, I was inspired by my peers,” senior Anerse Dotson said. “Seeing them pass AP tests, even though I haven't passed yet, seeing them do great, it's like that inspired me to want to chase that level of greatness.”

Senior Mylaysia Anderson recently transferred from a school with over two thousand students to North High School.

She said she felt invisible before she started at North High. For her, feeling the difference was hard to describe; it was something she felt.

“I could describe our school in one word, it would be united,” she said.” It feels like a family. I came from a huge school. It was a bunch of students, and I feel like teachers are kind of just there to do their job, like they didn't really have time to, like, create relationships with everybody.

“I feel like North is one of those places that, like, as long as you're honest and like, let people know what you have going on, they literally will try their best to work with you no matter what.”

Assistant Principal Steve White demonstrates his visual of North High’s tipping point with a scale, tipping to what he hopes is continued success for the school. Photo by Azhae’la Hanson

Assistant Principal Steve White called it a change in culture. He said his life changed when he was chosen as the assistant principal at North High School.

He described this increase in graduation for North High as the ‘tipping point.’

“The idea of a tipping point is, all of a sudden, an additional small change turns into something that is very visible, and our graduation rate is that,” he said. ”We've been doing these good things for a long time; it just now is tipped, and we have to make sure it doesn't tip back.”