Go forth, graduates

California’s high school graduation rate hit a record high last year, with 83.2 percent of the class of 2016 earning their diplomas.

With graduation rates increasing seven years in a row, and substantial gains for student populations who have historically struggled, every Californian has reason to be proud of our students — and optimistic about our prospects for an educated workforce in the years ahead.

What’s particularly exciting about the rate increases is that there’s been a narrowing of the racial achievement gap, a stubborn (and costly) problem in California.

The graduation rate for Latino students hit a record high of 80 percent, up 11.9 percentage points since 2010. For African American students, the rate was 72.6 percent, up 1.8 points from last year and 12.1 percentage points since 2010. While these rates are still lower than those for Asian and white students, they’re heading in the right direction.

Sunny as the data may be, they still come with caveats.

The Bay Area’s progress has slowed and maybe even stalled in some counties.

Contra Costa County declined from 89.3 in 2015 to 88.9 percent last year, and Santa Clara County dropped from 83.6 to 83 percent.

The declines may be nothing more serious than simple fluctuations, but they deserve official attention.

The rest of the state is surging ahead, and the Bay Area’s young people can’t afford to be left behind.