Washington’s graduation rate rising, but still lags national average

The nation’s average on-time high school graduation rate for the Class of 2014 nudged up to 82 percent, according to federal data released Tuesday.

That’s a few percentage points higher than in 2010, the first year that states were required to track the progress of each entering ninth-grade class, following them through 12th grade. It was the highest rate recorded for the nation since 2010.

The numbers for Washington State also have improved since that year

— from about 75 percent to 78 percent — but Washington beat only 12 other states and the District of Columbia. Iowa had the nation’s highest graduation rate, with nearly 91 percent. The District of Columbia had the lowest rate, with 61 percent. In the West, California had an 81 percent graduation rate, and Oregon posted 72 percent.

Washington also lagged behind the national average for every group of students sorted by race, income, disability and English proficiency.

The state’s 2014 graduate rate for American Indians and Alaskan Natives of 57 percent, for example, was about 12 percentage points lower than the national average.

Here are Washington’s other average rates (rounded) for the Class of 2014 compared with the national average:

o Asian/Pacific Islander: 84 percent /89 percent.

o Hispanic: 68 percent/76 percent.

o Black: 68 percent/73 percent.

o White: 81 percent/87 percent.

o Economically disadvantaged: 67 percent/75 percent.

o Limited English proficiency: 54 percent/63 percent.

o Students with disabilities: 56 percent/63 percent.

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction doesn’t expect to publish statewide data for the Class of 2015 until February, but some districts already are publishing their own numbers.

The nearly 83 percent graduation rate for Tacoma’s Class of 2015 is about 27 percentage points higher than it was in 2010, according to the News Tribune.

Seattle’s is about two percentage points higher than last year and up from about 71 percent two years ago.

And for the first time in five years, Highline Public Schools posted a graduation rate that cleared 70 percent, climbing about 7 percentage points in just the past school year.