The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) requires the State to calculate a four-year cohort rate to compare Utah's graduation rate with other states. Utah implemented this federally defined cohort graduation rate in 2008. This four-year cohort rate is used for all school accountability calculations. There are four outcome categories in the cohort rate calculation: Graduates, Dropouts, Continuing Students, and Other Completers. The "graduate" category only includes students who have earned a basic high school diploma or an adult education secondary diploma (Carnegie Units) achieved by September 30 following the end of their cohort school year. Students considered "other completers" include those students who completed the General Education Development test (GED) or a Certificate of Completion and students with disabilities who participated in the Utah Alternate Assessment (UAA). Students considered to be "continuing students" are students with disabilities (continued enrollment allowed until age 22), or those who transfer to higher education or the Utah College of Applied Technology (UCAT) without first receiving a high school diploma. The "dropout" category includes students who have not completed graduation requirements, such as those who have withdrawn, dropped out, or been expelled. Under the federal requirements, students who take longer than four years after entering ninth grade to receive their regular high school diploma are also considered dropouts. State graduation rate highlights include: (1) Utah's statewide graduation rate for the 2015 cohort was 84%; (2) Utah's graduation rate increased by 1% from 2014 to 2015; (3) Since 2008, the graduation rate has increased by 15%; and (4) 36,933 students graduated from high school in 2015.