CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Reversing a downward trend over the previous four years, Wyoming saw an increase in the number of high school seniors graduating on time last year.

The Wyoming Department of Education reports that 78.6 percent of seniors graduated in four years in the 2013-14 school year.

That is an improvement from 2012-13 when the rate was 77.5 percent.

The state's high school graduation rate had been declining since 2008-09 when 81.3 percent graduated on time.

State schools Superintendent Jillian Balow says she's pleased with the new rate but she says she's not satisfied with it because the rate can be better.

Balow says a key element of improving graduation rates is to keep students from dropping out of school.

She says her agency will work with educators to do that.

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