By Joyce Tsai
The state on Tuesday released some good news for many students, parents and educators: The four-year graduate rate hit a record high of 82 percent last year.
That’s up 1.3 percent from the year before and represents the sixth consecutive year-to-year increase, according to statewide results. The graduation rate of almost every student subgroup rose, with the biggest gains among English language learners and migrant students, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said in a statement.
The four-year graduation rates for African-Americans also made gains, but while the achievement gap is narrowing between white and black students, it is still substantial, at more than 17 percent.