The cliche about everything being bigger in Texas just might apply to the number of minorities receiving their high school diplomas as well.

According to My San Antonio, reporting on new data just released from the National Center for Education Statistics, Texas currently holds the highest graduation rates for Black and Hispanic high school students in the United States.

As stated in a release from the U.S. Department of Education the gap between minorities and non-minorities in terms of graduation is indeed narrowing, as the rates for minority students is moving faster than the rest of the nation.

Overall, the graduation rates for Black and Hispanic students has increased by nearly 4 percentage points from 2011 to 2013.

New figures from the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics show that number outpacing the growth for all students in the country.

Furthermore the data indicates that the gap between white students and black and Hispanic students receiving high school diplomas has narrowed during that time.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said, “The hard work of America’s educators, families, communities and students is paying off. This is a vital step toward readiness for success in college and careers for every student in this country.

“While these gains are promising, we know that we have a long way to go in improving educational opportunities for every student -- no matter their zip code -- for the sake of our young people and our nation’s economic strength.”

The government release stressed that economy “calls for critical skills that go beyond the basics.” And in an effort to ensure the economic strength of the United States, students must graduate high school prepared for “college, careers and life.”