The year 2013 set a historic precedent for the high school graduation rate in America with 81 percent of high school seniors graduating. According to the latest report from the National Center for Education Statistics, the highest graduation rates were in Midwestern states.

"Some interesting trends emerge when looking at the top rankings. For example, four of the top six states with the highest high school graduation rates are located in the Midwest," said author Jeff Roberts in an article on EducationDive.com.

According to a graph in the article, Iowa's graduation rate was 90% with Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wisconsin trailing only slightly behind at 88%.

"The cluster of Midwestern states is surprising, but even more so when considering only one of the top six states for high school graduation rates show up in the top 10 for college graduation rates," Roberts said. "Seven of the top 10 states with the highest college graduation rates are located in the eastern U.S.—with Iowa making the only appearance for the Midwest."

“[U.S. Secretary of Education Arne] Duncan told the TIME Summit on Higher Education that polls show three out of four Americans believe a college education is necessary to 'get ahead in life,’ the article said. “At the same time, he said, three out of four believe that college today is too expensive. He also pointed to low completion rates and a lack of accountability among higher education institutions to improve attainment and achievement. To combat these issues, Duncan offered a two-part remedy. First, a 'shared partnership' between institutions and state and federal government to keep costs down and improve the quality of education.”

Read the full story here and comment below. 

Article by Nicole Gorman, Education World Contributor