Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said the province's Specialist High Skills Majors program has helped boost the high school graduation rate. (Kimberly Gale/CBC)

High-school graduation rates in Ontario have increased across the province, Premier Dalton McGuinty announced Tuesday.

At a news conference held at George Harvey C.I. in Toronto, McGuinty said graduation rates have risen in each of the last six years, going from 68 per cent in 2003-04 to 81 per cent in 2009-10.

The rise in graduation rates means about 72,000 more students are earning their high-school diplomas than they were six years ago. McGuinty said the province's Specialist High Skills Majors program has helped boost the graduation rate.

The program allows students to focus their studies on a specific area relevant to their career interests. There are now more than 1,000 such programs across the province, in areas such as agriculture, manufacturing and information technology.

"We've got dozens and dozens of these new specialist high-skills majors," McGuinty told CBC News. "Everything from forestry to energy, to aviation to construction to business. All those being offered around the province, including auto mechanics."

McGuinty said the provincial government is targeting an eventual graduation rate of 85 per cent.

The statistics pointing to an increased graduation rate are based on students who have taken five years to graduate. Some students require a fifth year of high school to change their focus of study and take extra courses.

"Some kids can do it in four years some choose to do it in five years. Doesn't matter to me as a parent, as a teacher, as a premier.... I just want you to get it done," said McGuinty.