Florida graduation rates on the rise

Photographer: Christopher Furlong, Getty Images News
Copyright Getty Images

Regular Photo Size

Posted: 06/07/2012

By: Ashleigh Walters

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- New numbers released early Thursday reveal some good news for the Sunshine State when it comes to graduation rates.

A national report from "Education Week" is based on the graduating class of 2009. The study, shared by the Florida Department of Education, reveals that overall, Florida's graduation rates have increased 18 percentage points in the last decade, bringing the rate up to 70.4. The rate is still slightly below the national average.

Overall, minority students in Florida seem more likely to graduate from high school in Florida than in other states.

While the national average for Hispanic females is at 66.1 percent, the rate in Florida for the same group is at 77.5 percent, topping the nation.

African American males in Florida exceed the national graduation rate average by four percentage points, according to the released information.

Palm Beach County Schools, where students wrapped up the final day of school Thursday, is a district where graduation rates rank among the top ten in the country.

For more information about the report, visit http://www.edweek.org/ew/index.html