In the contentious climate of this election cycle, it can sometimes feel like all political news must be bad news. And with the presidential race getting so much news coverage, it can be easy to forget that the current president is still in office and working hard to try to improve Americans’ lives.
President Obama announced on Monday that high school graduation rates have increased to an all-time high of 83.2 percent. When President Obama took office in 2009, the high school graduation rate was 75.5 percent.
Obama made this announcement at Benjamin Banneker Academic High School in Washington D.C. His speech emphasized the work that has been done to help students work to get their diplomas, the opportunities available to students, and the work there still is to do.
A table shared by the White House Press Office shows that the graduation rate has increased for all minority groups, including racial and ethnic minorities, as well as low-income students, students with disabilities, and students who are learning English is a second language. Every group has seen their graduation rate increase each year since President Obama took office. The largest increase since 2010 is 8.1 percent by English learners.
The White House has also compiled a list of high school graduation rates by state. The highest graduation rate, and the only one to enter the ninety percent range, is Iowa, with 90.8 percent.
The Obama Administration credits several initiatives with helping to increase the graduation rate, including investing in preschool programs, increasing internet access in schools, encouraging great teachers and revamping financial aid programs to help students get to college.
These programs were introduced throughout Obama’s presidency and invested billions of dollars in education over eight years. The initiatives make it possible to invest in student success from the time children start preschool to the day they graduate college. As college students now, we're rightfully concerned about financial support for going to college and paying off student debt, but all of these programs help to make our communities better and allow students of all ages to reach their full potential.