Over the past dozen years, schools, districts, and states have begun to focus increased attention on boosting high school graduation rates. During this period, the nation has seen more evidence-based educational reforms in low-performing schools, more support for struggling students, and better data and stronger accountability to chart progress and challenge. In 2006, an emerging group of leaders and institutions that would become the "GradNation" campaign set an ambitious goal: to raise the national high school graduation rate to 90 percent by the Class of 2020 and to take that goal seriously by fostering the reforms, supports, and accountability that could ensure more students stay on track to graduate. In 2012, the nation took a giant step toward achieving this goal by reaching the 80 percent threshold for the first time in history, up about 10 percentage points from the beginning of the decade. The upward trajectory of high school graduation rates over the past decade continued in 2013, as the national graduation rate hit a record high of 81.4 percent. For the third year in a row, the nation remained on pace to meet the 90 percent goal. This Executive Brief highlights high school graduation rates across the nation, and notes the progress being made by states and the subgroups of students represented within them. It also provides statistics on the benefits of earning a high school diploma to underscore the importance of getting students through this critical juncture. While the nation celebrates this achievement, it must also maintain a commitment to keeping standards high to ensure students are prepared to meet the challenges ahead. This Executive Brief keeps pace with the release of data on graduation rates and lays a foundation for the more comprehensive annual "Building a Grad Nation" report that will be issued in May 2015.

This 2012 report shows that high school graduation rates continue to improve nationally and across many states and school districts, with 12 states accounting for the majority of new graduates over the last decade. Tennessee and New York continue to lead the nation with double-digit gains in high school graduation rates over the same period. The number of "dropout factory" high schools--and the number of students attending them--has also declined significantly over the last decade, particularly within suburbs and towns and in the South, and at a more accelerated rate within cities in recent years. Other progress on the "Civic Marshall Plan" to build a Grad Nation, including progress in meeting the goal of a 90 percent high school graduation rate for the Class of 2020, gives hope that these positive trends can continue. One state has now met the national high school graduation rate goal and another state has nearly done so; improvements are being made against the early benchmarks of the plan; and a significant number of institutions with reach into schools and communities are aligning their efforts with the Civic Marshall Plan's benchmarks. Although some states and school districts show that the dropout crisis can be solved, other states and districts are lagging, with 10 states having lower high school graduation rates recently compared to earlier in the decade. The pace across the country must be accelerated more than three-fold to meet the national goal of a 90 percent high school graduation rate by the Class of 2020. The strong relationship between education and the economy frames this year's report to reinforce what is at stake in strengthening this nation and preserving access to the American Dream for generations to come. (Contains 27 endnotes.) [For the full report, "Building a Grad Nation: Progress and Challenge in Ending the High School Dropout Epidemic. Annual Update, 2012," see ED530320.].

In 2013, the national high school graduation rate hit a record high of 81.4 percent, and for the third year in a row, the nation remained on pace to meet the 90 percent goal by the Class of 2020. This sixth annual update on America's high school dropout challenge shows that these gains have been made possible by raising graduation rates for students who have traditionally struggled to earn a high school diploma, and focuses on the student subgroups and geographic areas that both contribute to this progress and are key to driving toward the 90 percent goal. This report discusses 5 drivers that contribute to the challenge: (1) Low-Income Students; (2) Minority Students; (3) Students with Disabilities; (4) Big Cities/Big Districts; and (5) Big States. This document provides policy recommendations at the end of each section, and includes a compiled list of further federal and state policy recommendations at the end of the report. The following are appended: (1) Number of High Schools by Different Levels of Promoting Power, 2002-2013; (2) Change of High Schools with Promoting Power of 60 Percent or Less by Locale, 2002-2013; (3) High Schools and Student Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity with an Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR, 2012) below 67 Percent; (4) Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) Gap Change, by Subgroup and State from 2010-11 to 2012-13; (5) Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) Gaps, by Subgroup and State, 2012-13; (6) Four-Year Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rates (ACGR), by State and Subgroup, 2012-13; (7) Averaged Freshman Graduation Rate (AFGR) and Four-Year Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR), by State, 2003-2013; (8) Estimated Additional Graduates Needed by Class of 2020 to Reach 90 Percent, by State and Subgroup; (9) Top-500 Largest School Districts, Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) Change, Total K-12 Enrollment with Enrollment of Students Attending Schools with a City Locale Code, and Percentages of K-12 Race/Ethnicity for Schools within the District with any Locale Code, 2012-13; (10) Four or More Year Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) Public Availability, by State, Classes of 2011-2014; (11) Four-Year Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) Data Links, by State; (12) Frequently Used Terms and Definitions; (13) Graduation Rate FAQ; (14) GradNation Campaign Letter on ESEA Reauthorization; (15) Civic Marshall Plan Principles; and (16) Key Programs of the GradNation Campaign. [Data analysis for this report was performed by Mark Pierson and Vaughan Byrnes. Target was a supporting sponsor of this publication.].

The nation has achieved an 82.3 percent high school graduation rate--a record high. Graduation rates rose for all student subgroups, and the number of low-graduation-rate high schools and students enrolled in them dropped again, indicating that progress has had far-reaching benefits for all students. This report is the first to analyze 2014 graduation data using new criteria established by the "Every Student Succeeds Act" (ESSA) and the first to show the impact of additional time on graduation rates. The report provides a new national and state-by-state analysis of low-graduation-rate high schools; the number of additional students it will take for the country and each state to reach 90 percent; a look at the validity of graduation rates; and policy recommendations for change. Findings include the following: (1) Nationwide, there are four high-graduation-rate high schools (85 percent Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) and above) for every one low-graduation-rate high school (67 percent ACGR and below); (2) Twenty-four percent of all high schools were located in cities, but urban areas were home to more than half of 2014 low-graduation-rate high schools; (3) Forty-one percent of low-graduation-rate high schools were regular public schools (non-charter) in 2014; (4) 57 percent of alternative high schools nationwide were low-graduation-rate high schools, while only eight percent of alternative schools were high-graduation rate high schools; (5) Thirty percent of charter schools reporting ACGR in 2014 were low-graduation-rate high schools, and 44 percent were high-graduation-rate high schools; and (6) Roughly 87 percent of virtual schools were low-graduation-rate high schools in 2014. The following are appended: (1) Four-Year Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rates (ACGR), by State and Subgroup, 2013-14; (2) Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) Change from 2010-11 to 2013-14, by State; (3) Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) Gaps, by Subgroup and State, 2013-14; (4) Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) Gap Change, by Subgroup and State from 2010-11 to 2013-14; (5) Estimated Non-Low-Income Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR), Low-Income ACGR, Gap between Low-Income and Non-Low-Income, and Gap Change, by State, from 2012-13 to 2013-14; (6) Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR), by State, Percent Low-Income, ACGR Low-Income, ACGR Estimated Non-Low-Income, Gap between Low-Income and Non-Low-Income, and Gap Change, by State from 2011-2014; (7) Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR, 2013-14) for Students with Disabilities (SWD) versus Non-SWD; (8) Number of High Schools by Different Levels of Promoting Power, 2002-2014; (9) Change of High Schools with Promoting Power of 60 Percent or Less by Locale, 2002-2014; (10) Large High Schools and Students Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity with a 2014 Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) 67 Percent or Below, 2014; (11) 2014 State On-Pace/Off-Pace to 90 Percent ACGR by Class of 2020; (12) ESSA High Schools with ACGR 67 Percent or Below, by State and Type, 2014; (13) Number of Non-Graduates by State and School Type, 2014; (14) Number and Percentages of Regular High Schools by Type (District, Charter, Virtual), 2014; (15) Number and Percentages of Alternative High Schools by Type (District, Charter, Virtual), 2014; (16) Number and Percentages of Special Education High Schools by Type (District, Charter, Virtual), 2014; (17) Number and Percentages of Vocational High Schools by Type (District, Charter, Virtual), 2014; (18) Four-Year Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) Data Links, by State; (19) Frequently Used Terms and Definitions; (20) Graduation Rate FAQ; and (21) Civic Marshall Plan Principles. [Data analysis for this report was performed by Vaughan Byrnes and Mark Pierson. This report was edited by Erin Ingram, Kathleen McMahon, Joanna Hornig Fox, and Mary Maushard. For the 2015 report, see ED556759.].

This fourth annual update on America's high school dropout crisis shows that for the first time the nation is on track to meet the goal of a 90 percent high school graduation rate by the Class of 2020--if the pace of improvement from 2006 to 2010 is sustained over the next 10 years. The greatest gains have occurred for the students of color and low-income students most affected by the dropout crisis. Many schools, districts and states are making significant gains in boosting high school graduation rates and putting more students on a path to college and a successful career. This progress is often the result of having better data, an understanding of why and where students drop out, a heightened awareness of the consequences to individuals and the economy, a greater understanding of effective reforms and interventions, and real-world examples of progress and collaboration. These factors have contributed to a wider understanding that the dropout crisis is solvable. While progress is encouraging, a deeper look at the data reveals that gains in graduation rates and declines in dropout factory high schools occurred unevenly across states and subgroups of students (e.g. economically disadvantaged, African American, Hispanic, students with disabilities, and students with limited English proficiency). As a result, large "graduation gaps" remain in many states among students of different races, ethnicities, family incomes, disabilities and limited English proficiencies. To repeat the growth in graduation rates in the next ten years experienced in the second half of the last decade, and to ensure progress for all students, the nation must turn its attention to closing the graduation gap by accelerating progress for student subgroups most affected by the dropout crisis. This report outlines the progress made and the challenges that remain. "Part 1: The Data" analyzes the latest graduation rates and "dropout factory" trends at the state and national levels. "Part 2: Progress and Challenge" provides an update on the nation's shared efforts to implement the Civic Marshall Plan to reach the goal of at least a 90 percent high school graduation rate for the Class of 2020 and all classes that follow. "Part 3: Paths Forward" offers recommendations on how to accelerate the nation's work and achieve its goals, with all students prepared for college and career. The report also offers "snapshots" within schools, communities, and organizations from Orlando to Oakland that are making substantial gains in boosting high school graduation rates. Appended are: (1) Dropout Factory High Schools, by Region and State, 2002 and 2011; (2) Averaged Freshman Graduation Rate (AFGR) and Four-Year Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR), by State, 2003-2011; (3) 2010-2011 Four-Year Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rates (ACGR), by State and Subgroup; (4) Four-Year Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) Data Links, by State; (5) Four-Year Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) Public Availability, by State, District, and School, Classes of 2010 and 2011; (6) Change in Number of Dropout Factory High Schools, by Locale, 2002 to 2011; (7) Civic Marshall Plan State Index--Samples; (8) Subgroup Definitions; (9) Graduation Rate FAQ; (10) Civic Marshall Plan Leadership; (11) Civic Marshall Plan Principles; and (12) Key Programs of the Grad Nation Campaign. (Contains 10 tables, 3 figures and 116 endnotes.) [For "Building a Grad Nation: Progress and Challenge in Ending the High School Dropout Epidemic. Annual Update, 2012," see ED530320.].