U.S. graduation rate increases

The high school graduation rate in the United States increased from 72 percent in 2002 to 75 percent in 2008, according to a new report from America's Promise Alliance, Civic Enterprises, and the Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University. While noting that America continues to face a dropout epidemic, Building a Grad Nation: Progress and Challenge in Ending the High School Dropout Epidemic cites evidence that the nation can improve graduation rates, even in schools from lower-income, urban and rural districts that many previously thought were hopeless. The report also reveals that the number of "dropout factory" high schools fell by 13 percent between 2002 and 2008.

To learn more, visit the America's Promise Alliance website.