High School Dropout : In 2012, the country experienced its highest high school graduation rate, with 80 percent of seniors receiving a high school diploma. D.C., however, is well below the national average at 59 percent, though it should be noted that cities often experience higher dropout rates than suburbs. -5
Road Block:The new bike path by Union Station on First Street NE just opened, and cars are already blocking it. -3
Sports Bar: Finally, a respectable sports bar: Southern Efficiency in Shaw doesn’t actually have a TV, but it will have mint juleps on tap to celebrate the Kentucky Derby Saturday. +1
Block Party: Fusion Restaurant just shut its doors on the 4800 block of Georgia Avenue NW because of repeated break-ins. That, on top of other recent closures on the block, doesn’t bode well for the Northern Petworth neighborhood. -5
Yesterday’s Needle rating: 71 Today’s score: -12 Today’s Needle rating: 59