D.C. ranks last in high school graduation rate

In a new report from the U.S. Deptartment of Education, D.C. was ranked last in a nationwide study of high school graduation rates. At 59%, D.C. ranks far below Virginia which reported 82%, and Maryland with 83%. The new reporting system aims to make state by state comparisons more reliable so that problem areas may be more efficiently targeted. The report also found 70% of D.C. students to be low-income, compared to 37% in Virginia and 40% in Maryland. 147 of D.C. 191 high schools were in need of improvement and 99 were restructuring.