(RALEIGH) -- Gov. Beverly Perdue and state education leaders say a new outside report on graduation rates is proof North Carolina is moving its public schools in the right direction. Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson is pleased by the report.

"This is the first time that North Carolina has exceeded the national average and we also posted the second highest gains in the nation. Another really great thing is that our African-American females have the best graduation rate in the nation," said Atkinson.

The data, compiled during 2008, shows North Carolina's graduation rate is 72.8 percent, while the national rate was 71.7 percent. Overall, North Carolina's graduation rate is tied for 25th among the 50 states.