High School Dropout Rates Hit Record Low

By Dr. Marciene Mattleman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The national dropout rate reached a record low last year.

More US high school students are staying in school, primarily blacks and Hispanics. In 2013, Asians had the lowest dropout rate, 4%.

According to a report from The Pew Research Center, more Hispanic kids are staying in school, finishing high school and going on to college because of diminishing job opportunities for less-educated workers. Along with health care and immigration, education is one of the most important issues for Hispanics.

Hispanics comprise 25% of the nation's public school students, projected to go to 30% by 2022 and account for 18% of the college population.

Only 7% of the nation's 18- 24-year-olds dropped out of high school last year, continuing a steady decline from the nation's 12% dropout rate in 2000.

Good news.