Trends in State Dropout Rates
There has been a steady decline in the number of dropouts identified over
the last seven years. Improvements to school district student tracking systems
contribute to the reduction in identified dropouts during the first few
years of dropout data collection. The 1990-91 and 1992-93 reductions reflect,
in part, enhancements to the statewide dropout recovery system. In 1994-95,
there was a significant decline in the number of dropouts reported from
1993-94. A portion of this reduction can be attributed to changes in the
dropout definition, such as not including in the count seniors who fail
exit-level TAAS but pass all other graduation requirements. Reduction is
also attributed to use of the dropout rate as a performance indicator in
the state accountability system discussed later.
Minority students have represented a higher percentage of total dropouts
since the 1987-88 school year. As Figure 1 shows, Hispanic students have
made up the greatest percentage of dropouts since 1988-89. For the first
time this year the percent of total Hispanic dropouts decreased to 49.9
percent. This is attributed in part to the decision-making criteria for
identifying dropouts. Students leaving Texas public schools to return to
their home country were no longer counted as dropouts this year; and about
91 percent of dropouts recovered under this reason were Hispanic.
Figure 2 shows the percentage of dropouts by grade, from the 1987-88
school year to the 1994-95 school year. While students in the 9th grade
have consistently represented the highest percentage of total dropouts,
students in the 12th grade have steadily increased as a percentage of total
dropouts. In 1987-88, students in the 12th grade represented almost 12 percent
of all dropouts, while in 1993-94 they represented almost 20 percent. In
1994-95, the percentage of dropouts who are in the 12th grade appears to
be declining. However, recall that the recovery process eliminates students
from the calculation of the dropout rate if they failed exit-level TAAS,
but met all other graduation requirements. This recovery reason reduces
the number of 12th grade dropouts reported by 25 percent. The greatest decline
in number of dropouts continues to be in the 7th and 8th grades.
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