NY grad, dropout rates continue to improve

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A federal report shows public high school graduation rates continue to improve as dropout rates decline in New York.

The U.S. Department of Education says there were 183,826 graduates in 2009-2010, an estimated 76 percent of the freshmen enrolled four years earlier. The rates were 87 percent for white students, 62 for blacks, 61 for Hispanics, 92 for Asians and 60 for Native Americans.

The statistics released Tuesday show the overall rate has improved steadily from 61 percent in 2002-2003.

The graduation rate was 78 percent nationally.

New York's dropout rate was 3.6 percent, compared to 3.4 percent nationally. The rate among white students was 1.7 percent, 6.5 percent for blacks, 5.4 for Hispanics, 2.4 for Asians and 5.6 for Native Americans.

The overall rate was 5.5 percent in 2002-2003.