The numbers also indicate that the gap between white students and black and Hispanic students receiving high school diplomas continues to narrow, and English language learners and students with disabilities continue to make gains.
“The hard work of teachers, administrators, students and their families has made these gains possible, and as a result many more students will have a better chance of going to college, getting a good job, owning their own home, and supporting a family," Education Secretary Arne Duncan on the department's official blog. "We can take pride as a nation in knowing that we’re seeing promising gains, including for students of color.”