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The Lincoln Public Schools district says last year's graduation rate is the highest in a decade and results from a joint effort to help struggling students.
State calculations show the LPS graduation rate hit 83.3 percent last spring. The district calculations say it hit 84.7 percent.
District officials say the rate gap between white and minority students remains, but the district has seen substantial gains for black and Hispanic students.
District administrator T.J. McDowell says schools have been tracking students' progress so they can catch and treat problems early. McDowell also says the schools are creating a culture focused on post-high school plans, so "everyone knows high school is the first step."
