Arkansas' high school dropout rate has improved, but about 25% of the state's high school students still don't get their diplomas on time.
A study released Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Education shows the dropout rate in Arkansas during the 2009-2010 school year was 3.6%. The national rate was 3.4%.
A year earlier, the Arkansas and national rates were both 4.1%.
The percentage of high school students who got their diplomas in four years was 75% for Arkansas in 2009-10, compared to 78% nationally. The study notes that many students who don't graduate in four years eventually complete their coursework.
Arkansas ranks in the middle nationally. Arizona had the highest dropout rate at 7.8%. New Hampshire had the lowest at 1.2%.
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