New Study Says High School Graduation Rates Up - NBC Right Now/KNDO/KNDU Tri-Cities, Yakima, WA |

YAKIMA, Wash.-- A new study from the US Department of Education says high school graduation rates are at their highest in more than 30 years.

The dropout rate is down to 3.8 percent for males and 2.9 percent for females.

However, many students end up taking five years or more to complete their coursework.

The department says the struggling economy, along with fewer job opportunities for high school dropouts, have led to the lower dropout rates.