BOSTON -- Eighty percent of the students who graduate from Massachusetts high schools are doing so within four years, according to figures released by The Department of Education Thursday afternoon.

The DOE's analysis shows that in 209 of the state's 279 school districts with high schools, at least 80 percent of students in the class of 2006 graduated within four years. Of those districts, 104 had more than 90 percent graduate within four years and 35 had more than 95 percent graduate within four years.

"This is the first time we've been able to offer this type of data, that follows students for four years," said Nate Mackinnon, spokesman for the Department of Education.

Mackinnon described the data as tracking the "cohort of 2006," meaning students who entered the system as freshmen in 2002 as well as those who transferred in throughout the past several years.

The new tracking system is part of the state's accountability to the No Child Left Behind Act and in conjunction with The National Governor's Association, which is working to improve the high school and college-ready graduation rates in 26 states.

"This new system gives a more accurate description of what happens to students in the allotted to four years of high school," Mackinnon said.

Statewide, 79.9 percent of the 74,380 students who entered high school as ninth graders in 2002 or transferred into the class, graduated within four years. Of the remaining students, 6.4 percent are still in school, 1 percent completed high school without earning their competency determination, .8 percent earned a GED, 11.7 percent dropped out and .2 percent were expelled.

Education officials declined to comment about how the current dropout figures compare to past averages.

Other findings from the study show that females of every ethnicity graduate at a higher rate than their male counterparts, and that statewide, the graduation rate of students from urban communities ranks lower than the state average at 62.3 percent.

Mackinnon also said the figures are helping in identifying areas that need improvement.

"The new data shows where there is discrepancy within the schools," he said. "For instance, the biggest gaps are between urban and non-urban school districts, as well as gaps between African-American and white students and big gap between Hispanic and white students."

Massachusetts is one of the first states to release its 2006 figures, and ranks better than the national average, which is estimated at around 70 percent.

"The estimate for Massachusetts was between 70 and 75 percent and the actual figures were around 79.9 percent," Mackinnon said.

While no specific plans have been announced to improve upon existing figures, Mackinnon said there is plenty of work ahead for the DOE as well as individual school districts, parents and children to raise the graduation rates in Massachusetts.