Dive Summary:
- Despite having the highest high school graduation rate in 37 years, an Education Department study released Tuesday shows that a fifth of students still don't earn their diploma in four years.
- The national dropout rate is down to 3% overall, and officials say the struggling economy and increased competition for jobs are encouraging students who don't complete their diploma in four years to stay in school.
- Around 3.1 million students finished their high school diplomas in 2010, with 78% of students finishing on time, and the only graduation rate higher is reported to be 79% during the 1969-70 school year.
From the article:
The nation's high school graduation rate is the highest since 1976, but more than a fifth of students are still failing to get their diploma in four years, the Education Department said in a study released Tuesday.
Officials said the steady rise of students completing their education is a reflection of the struggling economy and a greater competition for new jobs. ...