Four-year graduation rates by state, 2010-11

The U.S. Department of Education has released for the first time data on four-year high school graduation rates compiled with states' using a common measure. The rankings, based on preliminary data for 2010-11:

State 4-YEAR GRADUATION RATES, 2010-111 Iowa 88% 2 Vermont 87% 2 Wisconsin 87% 4 Indiana 86% 4 Nebraska 86% 4 New Hampshire 86% 4 North Dakota 86% 4 Tennessee 86% 4 Texas 86% 10 Illinois 84% 10 Maine 84% 12 Connecticut 83% 12 Kansas 83% 12 Maryland 83% 12 Massachusetts 83% 12 New Jersey 83% 12 Pennsylvania 83% 12 South Dakota 83% 19 Montana 82% 19 Virginia 82% 21 Arkansas 81% 21 Missouri 81% 23 Hawaii 80% 23 Ohio 80% 23 Wyoming 80% 26 Arizona 78% 26 Delaware 78% 26 North Carolina 78% 29 Minnesota 77% 29 New York 77% 29 Rhode Island 77% 32 California 76% 32 Utah 76% 32 Washington (state) 76% 32 West Virginia 76% 36 Mississippi 75% 37 Colorado 74% 37 Michigan 74% 37 South Carolina 74% 40 Alabama 72% 41 Florida 71% 41 Louisiana 71% 43 Alaska 68% 43 Oregon 68% 45 Georgia 67% 46 New Mexico 63% 47 Nevada 62% 48 Washington, D.C. 59% * Idaho, Kentucky, Oklahoma no data Source: U.S. Department of Education