[Richard]

So if I understand the graphic correctly...you being an educator contribute to the worst high school graduation rate...

Actually -

Vermont ranked first, with 96.6 percent graduating. South Carolina ranked last with 55.2 percent; Washington, D.C., isn't included. The national rate of graduating students in 2009 was 69.3 percent.

http://politifact.com/texas/statemen...united-states/

Out of 308,427 students in the class of 2009 Grade 9 cohort,

• 80.6% graduated
• 8.6% continued in high school the year following their anticipated graduation
• 1.4% received GEDs
• 9.4% dropped out
The four-year, on-time graduation rate (79.1%) increased from the class of 2008 by 1.5 percentage points while the longitudinal dropout rate (10.5%) decreased.

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.as..._id=2147483659

This timeline highlights changes in education policy and Texas’ statewide longitudinal graduation rate as calculated by TEA since the Class of 1996. As the state adopted the more rigorous National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) dropout definition and increased TAKS performance standards, declines in the graduation rate between 2005 and 2007 were seen. The graduation rate increased between 2007 and 2009.

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.as..._id=2147483659

I'm not sure where Time got their stats but...

Richard