Get the facts. Here is a snapshot of findings from IDRA’s 2009-2010 Texas study, the 25th such study and the latest in a series of reports that began in the 1985-86 school year.
- The overall attrition rate was less than 30 percent for the first time in 25 years.
- About three of every 10 students from the freshman class of 2006-07 (119,836 students) left school prior to graduating with a high school diploma.
- Graduation gaps persist: a student in the class of 2009-10 who is Black or Hispanic is about two times more likely to leave school without a diploma than a student who is White.
- Almost two out of every five African American, Latino students and Native American students are lost to attrition.
- One quarter (25 percent) of all female students are lost to attrition.
- Since 1986, Texas schools have lost a cumulative total of more than 3 million students.
For a report on the full study findings.
For the news release.
For searchable findings by county.
How are students in other states faring?
For a ten-year (1996 - 2006) snapshot of graduation rates nationwide and for each state, visit Education Week’s Graduation in the States: Recent Gains at Risk of Eroding. The report finds that about 69 percent of all public school students graduated from high school with a diploma. Although the majority of states have improved over the ten-year span, 35 percentage points separate the best- from the worst-performing states and large disparities persist among racial and ethnic groups. For the full report from Education Week.
Texas simply can’t afford to lose another 3.5 million students to attrition over the next three decades, the rate of loss we can expect if we remain at our current pace, according to IDRA forecasts by Dr. Felix Montes.
|
What you can do:
Get in-depth findings from the annual attrition study study.
Assess how your district, campus and community are faring in graduating all students, and preparing graduates for college success.
Create "courageous connections" – and establish a school-community-family action team prepared to tackle this issue and achieve results.
Press for strategic shifts in local, state and federal policy to graduate all.
|
“Since I entered the program, I have thought about the future and how I have helped the tutees. In these thoughts, I have included myself and the changes in me. Before, I thought that staying in school was a waste of time, that my brothers did not need my assistance and that they should move ahead on their own. But all those thoughts changed since I entered this program. Now, I realize that staying in school is good for my future and for those who surround me.” – Wendy Ramírez, Middle School First Place, National Essay Contest, Eighth grade, Dr. Javier Sáenz Middle School, La Joya ISD. For the full essay...
To learn more about the IDRA Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program. An introductory seminar on the program is being held on October 28th in Atlanta.
The Intercultural Development Research Association is an independent, private non-profit organization whose mission is to create schools that work for all children.
Let us hear from you! Have a story of school-community partnership that's raising graduation rates? We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions at gradforall@idra.org. Forward to a Friend! Feel free to share Grad4All with anyone who shares your passion for every student’s success.
Thanks for reading!
Laurie Posner
Graduation for All Coordinator
Intercultural Development Research Association
5815 Callaghan Road, Suite 101
San Antonio, Texas 78228
210.444.1710
|
Visit us on the web! http://www.idra.org
Check out IDRA Classnotes Podcasts at http://www.idra.org/Podcasts/ |
