The Washington Post: Graduation Rates Rise for Virginia Schools

Graduation Rates Rise for Virginia Schools

By Kevin Sieff Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, September 30, 2010; 9:38 PM

More than 85 percent of Virginia high school seniors received diplomas on time in 2010 - marking a two point increase in the state's overall graduation rate, as well as a three point improvement among black and hispanic students.

State education officials said the numbers, which were released Thursday, represented a step toward closing the longstanding achievement gap between white and minority students. That trend was particularly pronounced among school districts in Northern Virginia, which outpaced the state's improvements in several categories. The graduation rate among Hispanics in Prince William County leapt more than 8 percent...