As education continues to be a top priority in the United States, graduation rates have become one of the most important measures of success for both states and individuals. The graduation rate is the percentage of high school students who complete their education within four years.
According to recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the national graduation rate for the 2018-2019 school year was 85%, which is the highest it has ever been. However, this rate varies widely by state.
Here are the top 5 states with the highest graduation rates:
1. Iowa: Iowa has the highest graduation rate in the country at an impressive 91.6%. The state has a strong focus on education, with a well-funded system and a high percentage of students participating in extracurricular activities.
2. New Jersey: New Jersey comes in second with a graduation rate of 90.5%. The state has consistently had a high graduation rate over the years, which can be attributed to its strong educational infrastructure and rigorous curriculum.
3. Vermont: Vermont has a graduation rate of 89.6%. The state’s small size means that schools are able to give individual attention to each student, which helps them excel academically.
4. Tennessee: Tennessee’s graduation rate is 89.7%. The state has made significant progress in recent years, with graduation rates improving by nearly 10% in the past decade.
5. Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania rounds out the top five with a graduation rate of 89.4%. The state has a diverse population, and its schools offer a wide range of educational programs to meet the needs of its students.
It’s important to note that graduation rates can be influenced by a variety of factors, such as the quality of education, socioeconomic status, and school funding. However, these top-performing states have made education a priority, and their efforts have paid off in high graduation rates.
While these states have the highest graduation rates, there are certainly others that are making progress as well. States like Alabama and New Mexico have seen significant improvements in their graduation rates in recent years, with both states seeing an increase of over 10% since 2010.
Overall, these states serve as examples of what can be achieved when education is made a top priority. By continuing to invest in education and creating supportive environments for students, we can ensure that more young people are able to graduate and succeed in life. 10:20 AM
