A new report by the Education trust is being released this afternoon. It details how most states are reporting inaccurate graduation data each year to the U.S. Department of Education. The Department of Ed knows about it and hasn't done anything to stop it.

The worst example is North Carolina, which boasts a 97% graduation rate, but more accurate estimates put it around 64% -- a 33% difference! This is because North Carolina gets away with it by reporting the percentage of graduates who got diplomas in four years. It doesn't even take drop-outs into account at all! Other states are in similar shape.

The report also talks about how many states don't show graduation data for different racial and ethnic groups, how states' numbers wildly fluctuate from year to year (which couldn't happen in reality). Also detailed is how states set lower goals for graduation than the rates they currently have. No need to improve if they don't set higher goals for themselves!

Read the report