US high school grad rate hits unprecedented 82%

• Newly-released data from the U.S. Department of Education shows that 82% of American high school seniors graduated in 2013-14, a record-breaking high percentage.
• The percentage has increased steadily over the past four years, with a previous high of 81% reported in February.
• Additionally, the federal government claims that the achievement gap in graduation rates between racially disparate students is also now decreasing.