Introduction to Texas High School Attrition Rates
The Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA) has released a report showing that the percentage of Texas high school students who left school before graduating has dropped to an all-time low. According to the report, 18% of students who started 9th grade in the fall of 2020 left school before graduating last year. This is the lowest attrition rate since IDRA began tracking it in 1986.
Understanding Attrition Rates
IDRA uses a unique calculation to measure attrition, taking into account changes in enrollment. This calculation provides a more accurate picture of the number of students who leave school before graduating. The attrition rate is an important indicator of a school’s ability to retain students and help them graduate. IDRA’s research analyst, Christina Quintanilla-Muñoz, notes that "attrition is an important indicator for what we define as a school’s holding power, or a school’s ability to retain students until they are able to successfully graduate."
Trends in Attrition Rates
The report shows that the attrition rate for Latino students has also reached a historic low of 22%, and the attrition rate for Black students has returned to its previous all-time low of 23%. However, despite these positive trends, there are still significant disparities in attrition rates among different racial and ethnic groups. Black and Latino students are still leaving school at about twice the rate of white students.
Strategies for Improving Attrition Rates
IDRA identifies six strategies that can help students stay in school and graduate:
- Reducing exclusionary discipline
- Limiting the number of students held back a grade
- Support for English Learners
- Robust, culturally responsive curriculum
- Reduced high-stakes testing
- Sufficient funding
These strategies are based on feedback from students, parents, teachers, and education leaders, and are designed to create a more supportive and inclusive learning environment.
Regional Variations in Attrition Rates
The report also highlights regional variations in attrition rates. For example, Harris County, which includes Houston, has an overall attrition rate of 19%, while Jefferson County, which includes Beaumont, has seen an increase in its attrition rate over the past few years. The Black student attrition rate in Jefferson County was 30% last year, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to support students in this region.
Comparison with State Data
IDRA’s data differs from the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) reported high school graduation rate of 91% for 2024. IDRA’s researchers believe that the state’s data may be inflated by excluding students who should be counted as dropouts but are instead listed as leaving for other reasons. For example, over 40,000 students in Texas schools were recorded as leaving for "unknown reasons" during the 2022-2023 school year, and over 30,000 were recorded as leaving for homeschool.
Conclusion
While the report shows a record low attrition rate, IDRA’s researchers emphasize that there is still much work to be done to support students who are at risk of leaving school. The fact that one in five students is not graduating is a concern, and the disparities in attrition rates among different racial and ethnic groups are a reminder of the need for targeted interventions to support all students. By using a more accurate calculation of attrition rates and identifying effective strategies for improving student retention, IDRA hopes to provide a more nuanced understanding of the challenges facing Texas schools and to support efforts to improve student outcomes.
