New Mexico high school graduation rate hits all-time high

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico officials say its high school graduation rate climbed to an all-time high of 71 percent last year. New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez announced the increase in the graduation rate Monday as she pushes for legislative reforms to crack down on truancy and retain more students in third grade if they can't meet literacy requirements. The rate is up from 68.6 percent in 2015, and about 63 percent in 2011 just after Martinez took office. The Public Education Department says graduation rates increased at 48 out of 89 school districts in 2016, including districts in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Gadsden, Santa Fe, Ruidoso, Taos and Carlsbad. Nationwide, the high school graduation rate was 83 percent in 2015.