According to numbers released last week by the Texas Education Agency, Texas high school students in 2011 accomplished something that no class before them had done. Reaching an all-time high 85.9 percent on-time graduation rate, students proved their might yet be promise for what lies ahead after public school education ends.
Local school districts are seeing similar trends, thanks in part to stricter truancy rules such as those outlined recently in Cleburne ISD policy, various credit recovery programs across the county and resources to help students pass state-mandated tests.
The Class of 2011 was the first group required to take four credits each of math, science, social studies and English, which gave fewer students time out of school for “off periods.” Students following the Recommended Graduation Program or Distinguished Achievement Program plans were required to earn a total of 26 credits as well as pass the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills.
Some districts have yet to see their 2011 numbers as compiled by the TEA, but local district officials said they believed their statistics will be in line with the state average, if not better.
Dr. Kenneth Estes, Alvarado ISD’s assistant superintendent said dropout rates for grades 7-12 improved from 1.6 percent in 2010 to 1.0 percent in 2011.
There was a .9 percent decrease in the number of ninth through 12th grade students that chose to drop out as well.
“That was significant,” Estes said. “Our graduation rates increased across the board.”
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