Figure 1. High school graduates as a percentage of the 17-year-old population, 1910–2010
Year Percent

1910

 8.8

1920

 16.8

1930

 29.0

1940

 50.8

1950

 59.0

1960

 69.5

1970

 76.9

1980

 71.4

1990

 73.4

2000

 69.8

2010

 77.0

Source: National Center for Education Statistics.