New York: The average statewide four-year graduation rate was 71% in 2007

This number includes those who graduate in August after completing summer school classes. However, the rates for Hispanics and blacks were 47% and 51%, respectively. While both groups have increased about five percentage points from their 2005 levels, it is still considered too low. Scores on state math and English standardized tests have also been improving during the last few years but minorities are lagging behind. On the most recent results, released in June, only 53% of blacks and Hispanics had achieved proficiency in English compared with 79% of whites. In addition, at the end of 2007, about 3.1% of black males were in prison compared with 1.3% Hispanic and 0.5% white. Although teenage pregnancy rates have been declining the rate for black and Hispanics is still higher. The rate of pregnancy for teenagers age 15 to 19 for non-Hispanic whites was 47.1 per 1,000 people. For non-Hispanic blacks, it was 131.6, according to information from National Vital Statistics Reports.