High School Graduation Rate Hits Record High in U.S. — Does Illinois Make the Grade?

Recently released data show national graduation rates have steadily climbed since 2010 — but how does Illinois measure up?

The 85.6 percent graduation rate for Illinois is actually 2.4 percent higher than the national average. But that only puts Illinois in a three-way tie for 22nd place among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

And where the U.S. rate increased each year, rising from 79 percent in 2010-2011, Illinois dropped from that school year to the next, then climbed in the next two school years before falling again in 2014-2015.

Delaware and North Carolina had the same rate as Illinois.

Neighboring Indiana and Iowa were both higher than Illinois at 87.1 and 90.8 percent respectively.

In specific groups, Illinois also fared better than the country as a whole:

• "Economically disadvantaged" students had a graduation rate of 77.9 percent, compared to 76.1 nationally.
• Students with a limited English proficiency had a graduation rate of 72 percent, compared to 65.1 percent nationally.
• Students with disabilities had a graduation rate of 70.5 percent, compared to 64.6 percent nationally.

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