The 2012 update of Building a Grad Nation: Progress and Challenge in Ending the High School Dropout Epidemic released by the Alliance for Excellent Education, America’s Promise Alliance, Civic Enterprises and the Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University finds that the nation’s graduation rate increased three and a half percentage points from 2001 to 2009 (from 72 percent to 75.5 percent) and increased a half percentage point to 75.5 percent from 2008 to 2009. The number of “dropout factory” high schools – schools that graduate 60 percent or fewer students on time – decreased by 457 – nearly 23% -- between 2002 and 2010. The report demonstrates progress has been made over the last few years at raising graduation rates, but much work remains to ensure all students graduate fully ready for college and careers