OTTUMWA,IOWA -- The latest graduation rates are in and the news is positive for Ottumwa.

The school district saw its graduation rate increase from 74% to 82% last year.

The district points to its new Parent Outreach Coordinator and Welcome Center Counselor positions, which assist parents and new students.

The increase not only keeps students in school, but also means increase funding from the state. Much of the 16% dropout consists of latinos and students from low income housing.

Superintendent Jon Sheldahl says he is proud of the increase, but it's still below the federal target.

"It's much more of a high stakes situation right now. Because with no child left behind, one of the secondary indicators that we're required to report out on is high school graduation rate. The federal target is 95%. So you can see we went from 74% this year to 82. That's a nice jump but we're still well below."

Sheldahl believes the focus should be on each individual student.

"I think we're on the right track. We just got a long ways to go. We have a lot of kids that are overcoming a lot of obstacles to become high school completers. We have to try and help them get over those barriers."

If you would like to learn more aabout the graduation rates, contact the district.