U.S. High School Graduation Rates

Vital Stats



Several measures suggest that the outlook for high schools is improving.



Federal data released this year reflect the highest graduation rate since the 1969-70 school year



Some states are on pace to reach a 90 percent high school graduation rate by 2020, a goal set in 2010 by the Grad Nation campaign, a coalition of individuals, organizations, and communities. Between 2006 and 2010, the national graduation rate rose in large part through gains made by Latino and African-American students.



Graduation Rates



Dropout Rates



Advanced Placement



78.2 2009-10

75.5 2008-2009

73.4 2005-06

71.7 2000-01

78.7% 1969-70 school year

Class of 2010 3.4% 6.1% 1972

19.5 class of 2012

18.1 Class of 2011

11.6% of graduates passed an AP exam in the class of 2002



The dropout rate continues to fall.



The dropout rate decreased to 3.4 percent for the class of 2010; The "event dropout count" represents the number of students dropping out each year-those who were in school at some time during the previous year and had not enrolled at the beginning of the current year or had transferred.



Student performance on Advanced Placement exams is steadily improving.



Participation in the AP program also is expanding. There were 954,070 public school students who took at least one exam last year (32.4 percent of 2012 graduates), compared with 904,794 (30.2 percent of graduates) the year before and 471,404 (18 percent) in 2002.



Education Week Federal data released this year reflect the highest graduation rate since the 1969-70 school year VITAL STATS Several measures Some states are on pace to reach a 90 percent high school graduation rate by 2020, a goal set in 2010 by the Grad Nation campaign, a coalition of individuals, organizations, and communities. Between 2006 and 2010, the national graduation rate rose in large part through gains made by Latino and African-American suggest that the outlook for high schools is improving. GRADUATION RATES 78.2 75.5 students. 73.4 71.7 2000-01 78.7% The dropout rate continues to fall. 1969-70 school year The dropout rate decreased to 3.4 percent for the class of 2010; The "event dropout count" represents the number of students dropping out each year-those who were in school at some time during the previous year and had not enrolled at the beginning of the current year or had transferred. Class of 2010 3.4% 6.1% 1972 19.5 Class of 2012 11.6 % 18.1 Class of Student performance on Advanced Placement exams is steadily improving. of graduates passed an AP exam in the class of 2011 Participation in the AP program also is expanding. There were 954,070 public school students who took at least one exam last year (32.4 percent of 2012 graduates), compared with 904,794 (30.2 percent of graduates) the year before and 471,404 (18 percent) in 2002. 2002 ADVANCED PLACEMENT EDUCATION WEEK SOURCES: National Center for Education Statistics; Grad Nation; College Board 2009-10 2008-2009 2005-06 DROPOUT RATES