Across the board, the Wake County Public School System reported an unofficial 4-year graduation rate of 78.4 percent in 2010 for the second year in a row.
Seven of the 10 subgroups of students identified in the report saw gains in graduation rates.
"I applaud and commend our teachers and principals who have worked hard to achieve these gains," Wake County School Board Chair Ron Margiotta said. "I know through our continued hard work we can build on these improvements."
Schools must report graduation rates in their measurement of Adequate Yearly Progress, in accordance with provisions in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.
The reported 4-year gradation rate is calculated using the number of ninth graders who graduate four years later.
Students classified as American Indian, economically disadvantaged and Hispanic had the most significant increase in four-year graduation rates. American Indians gained 9 percentage points, while economically disadvantaged and Hispanic students gained 5.5 and 3.3 percentage points, respectively.
The No Child Left Behind Act requires the NC Department of Public Instruction to use both the four-year and five-year graduation rates to measure Adequate Yearly Progress in high schools.
Wake's overall average for the five-year rate in 2010 remained at 81.6 percent for the second year in a row.
Asian students garnered the highest graduation rates across all groups and in both the four- and five-year categories. The subgroup saw rates just above 91 percent in both measurements.
Groups that saw a decline over the last two years include multi-racial, Limited English Proficient and male students.
Schools have reported four-year and on-time graduation rate to the NC Department of Public Instruction since the incoming ninth grade class of 2002-03.
