For the third year in row, federal officials say that the graduation rate for the nation’s students with disabilities is on the rise.

Figures released this week indicate that the graduation rate for those with disabilities hit 63.1 percent for the 2013–2014 school year.

That’s an increase over the 61.9 percent reported for the 2012-2013 school year and growth of 4.1 percent over three years, the U.S. Department of Education said.

The gains come as federal education officials are touting four years in a row of record-high graduation rates across the country with some 82.3 percent of all students receiving diplomas during the 2013–2014 school year.

“America’s students have achieved another record milestone by improving graduation rates for a fourth year,” U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said. “The hard work of teachers, administrators, students and their families has made these gains possible and as a result many more students will have a better chance of going to college, getting a good job, owning their own home and supporting a family.”

The data issued this week provides a snapshot of the number of students nationwide earning a regular high school diploma within four years, along with breakdowns for various demographic groups.

Among students with disabilities, graduation rates varied markedly by state with a high of over 83 percent graduating in Arkansas and a low of 27.6 percent in Nevada, though the Education Department has indicated that reporting differences from state to state play a role in the variation.

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