NC graduation rate has increased by more than 19% in the past 14 years

The graduation rate has grown the most for Native American and Hispanic students, a recent report says.

In 2006, Native American students had a graduation rate of about 51%. That rate has risen to 85% this year.

In the past 14 years, the rate that Hispanic students have been graduating from North Carolina high schools has risen by more than 29%. But Hispanic students still have the lowest graduation rate in North Carolina when compared to other races.

Black students have seen a nearly 25% increase in graduation rates over the past 14 years. In 2009, that rate was at 60%, and now it is above 85%. Multi-racial students have seen about a 20% increase in their graduation rate as well in the same time frame.

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"Gains among several student groups outpaced the state’s overall increase last year, continuing a trend in the state that has seen gaps closing for minority and economically disadvantaged students against the rate for white students and the state’s total overall," the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction wrote in a statement.

As it remains, girls graduate from North Carolina public schools at a higher rate – about 5% – than boys.

Asian students graduate from North Carolina schools at the highest rate, with a more than 94% graduate rate. White students graduate from North Carolina schools at the second-highest rate.

The graduation rate for students with disabilities remains below 80%. In 2006, that rate was as low as 50%. This year, the rate was a little more than 72%.

"Except for students with disabilities and those with limited English proficiency, the four-year graduation rate for all subgroups exceeded 80 percent," state education officials said.

North Carolina reports highest-ever high school graduation rate