(RALEIGH) -- The graduation rate among North Carolina high school students has reached an all-time high of just over 80 percent. Republican House Speaker Thom Tillis said this demonstrates education and budget policy decisions by the General Assembly were the right ones.

"The more flexibility we give school systems to operate and get Raleigh out of the business, and hopefully Washington out of the business, I think the better we'll do," said Tillis.

He said it is critical to pay more attention to teachers and principals rather than created more regulations which he says "hamstring" educators ability to do their jobs.