A new report set to be released Monday shows North Carolina among just a handful of states with the most dramatic progress in improving high school graduation rates over the past decade.

The report from the Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University will be released Monday at a summit meeting in Washington sponsored by America's Promise Alliance.

It shows the national graduation rate rose from 72 percent in 2001 to 75.5 percent in 2009, and the report claims 12 states were responsible for the majority of that progress. North Carolina is among them.

It also credits the Tar Heel State for being among national leaders in reducing the number of so-called "dropout factories". Those are schools where 60 percent of fewer of incoming freshman eventually graduate on time.

The number of such schools in North Carolina dropped from 106 to 78 in the last decade.

HAMPTON, VA – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is proud to announce an unprecedented in-store commemorative cup promotion with McDonald’s®, an official partner of the CIAA since 2005, and long-time official partner, Coca-Cola® to celebrate the CIAA’s 100th Anniversary in Charlotte, N.C. on February 28 – March 4, 2012.

“The CIAA, its Board of Directors, member institutions, alumni, students and fans are proud to have the support of McDonald’s and Coca-Cola in celebrating our 100th anniversary”, says Chairman of the CIAA Board of Directors - Dr. Mickey Burnim. “This is a great time for the CIAA as we celebrate 100 years of history and success. This partnership not only raises the awareness of the CIAA, but it also showcases the strength of our brand.”