Michigan High School Wins Commencement Challenge

Presidents usually make the commencement rounds in May to nationally known colleges and universities but this June, President Obama will be at Kalamazoo Central High School in Michigan which is the President's choice for winner of the first annual "Race to the Top" challenge.

More than 1,000 schools entered the challenge determined to show that their school was doing everything it could to maintain a high graduation rate.

In announcing the winner, White House officials state that "More than 80 percent of the school’s students graduate, and last year the school made its adequate yearly progress goals for the first time in several years for all student groups.  In addition, the “Kalamazoo Promise” - a pledge to pay the college tuition costs for Kalamazoo Central graduates, funded by anonymous donors – embodies a true community commitment to encourage every student to graduate from high school college- and career-ready."

In announcing the winner, President Obama said he's looking forward to talking to students there to gain insight so the nation can achieve its goal.  "America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020."  The President said during his remarks at the Business Council where he made the announcement. "And we're making progress towards meeting that."