The nation's high school graduation rate is the highest since 1976, but more than a fifth of students are still failing to get their diploma  in four years, the Education Department said in a study released Tuesday. 

When it comes to a state breakdown Louisiana's dropout rate is decreasing. Locally at Woodlawn Leadership Academy they are doing everything they can to make sure students are graduating. 

Dr. Latonyia London says she often makes a visit to a students home or job to convince them not to drop out of school.

From Saturday school to after school programs the school was recently praised by the school board and by state education leaders for increasing its graduation rate.

Currently the dropout rate  in Louisiana stands at 5% down from 7%  last year. 

In Arkansas  the rate is also down from 4.1% to 3.6%. 

And Texas students are graduating at a rate higher than the national average at 78%.