NM graduation rates far below national average

The federal government reports that New Mexico's graduation rate for the 2009-2010 was 67.3 percent. 

That's below the national average of 78.2 percent. 

The so-called "average freshman graduation rates" indicate the percentage of 9th graders who go on to graduate within four years. 

The rates are being reported by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is part of the U.S. Department of Education. 

States' rates ranged from 57.8 percent in Nevada at the low end to 91.4 percent in Vermont at the high end.

NM graduation rates far below national average