DES MOINES – For the third consecutive year, the state’s graduation rate has increased, according to figures released by the Iowa Department of Education. At the same time, fewer students were dropping out of high school in Iowa.
Graduation rates for the class of 2013 increased for all but one subgroup of students. Of particular note are significant increases among students whose first language is not English (1.82 percent), Hispanic students (2.02 percent), and Native Americans (10.5 percent).
“As a former Iowa superintendent and high school principal, I know the hard work that goes into getting every student across the finish line to complete high school,” said Iowa Department of Education Director Brad Buck. “Iowa’s increasing graduation rate is a testament to the commitment of everyone across the state, from parents to teachers to administrators to policy makers.”
The statewide graduation rate is 89.68 percent, marking a three-year trend. That’s an increase from 89.26 percent in 2012, and 88.32 percent in 2011.
[poll random]
