Minneapolis graduation rate up, but still too low

Minneapolis school district officials say they're pleased with an increase in the district's four-year graduation rate, but that overall rates are still too low.

In an email to parents, Minneapolis Public Schools Superintendent Bernadeia Johnson said she is encouraged by a 3.2 percent increase in the district's 2012 graduation rate compared to the year before.

Johnson admits the district's overall rate is still too low. Just over half of students in the district graduate in four years, 20 points lower than the statewide average.

Johnson says there were increases in each student ethnicity group as well, but a troubling gap still exists between white students and racial minority students.

Data from the Minnesota Department of Education in 2012 show only a quarter of American Indian students graduated in four years. The rate is 36.8 percent for both Latino and black students. Nearly 70 percent of Asian and white student graduated on time.

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