Number of public school graduates entering college has risen

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BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The number of Louisiana public high school graduates entering college rose 6 percent last year, the state's education superintendent said Thursday

According to education department data, 22,972 high school graduates across the state's public school districts enrolled in college in 2014, an increase of 1,228 students from a year earlier.

Students from low-income families accounted for half that growth. The department said that the number is an "all-time high" for Louisiana and that the figure grew 16 percent since 2011.

Superintendent John White credited increased education expectations, improved standards and a greater focus on courses that can provide college credit.

"Record-breaking numbers of Louisiana high school graduates enrolling in post-secondary education is cause for real celebration across the state," LSU System President F. King Alexander said in a statement.

Public school districts with at least 70 percent of their high school graduates entering college in 2014 included: Lincoln Parish, West Feliciana Parish, Central Community Schools, Bossier Parish, Ascension Parish and Zachary Community Schools. The Orleans Parish schools run outside of the state-takeover district also reached that benchmark.