Naivete and education

I read in the paper that my state is now in the top ten US states by the rate of graduation from high school, which sounds all fine and dandy until the numbers come in: 72% of teenagers graduate from high school in this "advanced" state... So, more than a quarter of the young people you see around you are not able to function at the level of, or persevere up to, the end of high school? and that is in the top ten of an allegedly advanced nation???
So, how are thigns for the 40th or 50th state? How are thigns in truly poor or deficient nations? Progress, modernity, even decency and brains (as in: making education a priority and a right --and need-- for all) have not yet reached all quarters of the world, and the even base-level educated (end of high school) are still almost a minority?! Sad news indeed; or, in fact, sad reminder -- rather than news.
Let's not be too proud of ranking in the top ten....