KALAMAZOO (WKZO) -- Kalamazoo Public Schools officials say they have seen a "significant gain" in the graduation rate for the Class of 2012.

The 69.09-percent graduation rate, as released by the State of Michigan, is a 4.9-percent increase over the previous year.  It's also the highest rate the district has seen since the state began using a new formula to determine the rate as set by the U.S. Department of Education.  The 4.9-percent rate is well beyond the state's overall gain of 1.9-percent.

Breaking the numbers down by school, officials say Loy Norrix High School's graduation rate increased from 68.7-percent to 75.29-percent, while Kalamazoo Central High School's rate increased from 75.78-percent to 81.51-percent.