The Huffington Post – Rebecca Klein
“The U.S. high school graduation rate reached a new high of 81 percent for the 2012–2013 school year, according to data released Thursday by the Department of Education. Since 2010, states have been calculating their four-year high school graduation rates using a uniform measure, so that accurate comparisons can be made between different parts of the country. Eighty-one percent is the highest high school graduation rate the United States has seen since states began using this measure, a Thursday statement from the Education Department said. “America’s students have achieved another record-setting milestone,” said Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in the statement. “We can take pride as a nation in knowing that we’re seeing promising gains, including for students of color. This is a vital step toward readiness for success in college and careers for every student in this country.” The data show how graduation rates varied from state to state. As illustrated by the map below, Iowa had the highest graduation rate — 90 percent — while District of Columbia had the lowest rate at 62 percent.”(more)