How States Rank on High-School Graduation Rates
Nationwide, the percentage of students getting their diplomas is at an all-time high. But while some states have made incredible strides, others have struggled to keep up.
More students are graduating from high school than ever before, and that number could rise again with this year’s seniors.
The national graduation rate for the 2012-13 school year was 81 percent, which was up from 80 percent the year before and 79 percent the year before that, according to the U.S. Department of Education. This sort of growth is possible as a result of the huge improvements in the numbers of black and Latinos getting their diplomas. But it’s also due to specific state improvements.
If this trend continues, the national graduation rate could reach 90 percent by 2020, according to a report from Civic Enterprises and Johns Hopkins University, which is part of a coalition that’s spearheading the initiative to meet that goal. But stagnation in certain states could keep the national average down.
National Journal ranked and graded the states based on how their graduation rates changed between 2011 and 2013.
1) Nevada
2011: 62 percent
2013: 71 percent
Grade: A
Despite having a graduation rate well below the national average at 71 percent, the state has improved drastically from its 62-percent graduation rate in 2011. Part of that growth is due to the 11.4-point increase in Latino graduation rates over the three-year period.
2) Alabama2011: 72 percent
2013: 80 percent
Grade: A-
Alabama is on track toward reaching a 90-percent graduation rate in the coming years, boosted by improvements among its large black enrollment. The gap between black and white graduation rates was narrowed by 5 percentage points between 2011 and 2013.
3) New Mexico
2011: 63 percent
2013: 70 percent
Grade: A-
The graduation rate among Latinos in the state rose 9 percentage points over the three-year period. Considering that Latinos comprise 57 percent of enrollment, that gain was a boost for the state’s overall numbers. Poverty remains a difficult issue for the state. Around half of its students live in high-poverty areas, well above the national average of 20 percent. The overall graduation rate is still low, at 70 percent.
4) Utah
2011: 76 percent
2013: 83 percent
Grade: B+
Part of the growth in Utah is due to the 13.4 percentage-point rise in Latino graduation rates between 2011 and 2013. The state already has an above-Nevada vs. Arizona: Despite an All-Time-High National Graduation Rate, Dropout Factories and Achievement Gaps Persist in Some States - The Atlantic: