US/Louisiana Graduation Rate At All Time High

The US graduation rate is at an all time high, and so is Louisiana’s. According to a report released by the White House, the Bayou State’s graduation rate for 2014-2015 is 77.5 percent, compared to 74.6 percent the prior year.

"Louisiana has grown its graduation rate more than 5 percentage points over the last four years alone," said Louisiana Superintendent of Education John White. "That means thousands of students who now have a diploma and a future in life."

The overall US graduation rate went up to 83.2 percent. White says years ago Louisiana committed that graduating from high school would be a part of our state's high school rating system.

"And in recent years high school ratings have gone up," said White, "There's a simple reason for that. Teachers have done the hard work and students and parents have worked right along side them to make sure it happens."

The numbers from Washington show Asian Americans had a 90.2 percent graduation rate, whites were 87.6 percent and African Americans at 74.6 percent. White says Louisiana also has unfortunate gaps between low income students and their peers.

He says Louisiana outpaces the nation in terms of improvement, but there is still a long way to go.

"We have to go on, and make sure every student has a path to a meaningful wage, to the middle class and an adult life where they can provide for their family right here in Louisiana," said White.