HISD graduation rate rises, drop outs decline

By Christine Nguyen

The Houston Independent School District’s graduation rate has risen for the 4th consecutive year, while the dropout rate hit a record low, the district reported Monday.

The Class of 2011 graduation rate reached 78.5 percent, while the dropout rate fell to 11.8 percent, the best figures HISD has seen under the accountability system put into place in 2007, according to preliminary figures released by the Texas Education Agency.

The figures have improved from a 64.3 percent graduation rate and a 22.1 dropout rate for the Class of 2007.

The district credits the improvements, in part, to Grad Lab, an online program that allows students to make up credits at their own pace, and other dropout prevention efforts, which include assigning student case workers to “at-risk” students and a computer-based warning program that uses student data to track students who show signs of becoming dropouts.

“The Board of Education and administration come up with the initiatives to drive student achievement,” HISD Superintendent Terry Grier said in a press release. “But it takes strong professional educators in the schools and classrooms to make these plans work and produce the kinds of results we are seeing.”

Although TEA has not released statewide averages for the Class of 2011, HISD has consistently trailed state averages for graduation rates. Likewise, the district’s dropout rate is far from reaching state averages. According to the TEA, the Class of 2010 state graduation rate for high schoolers was 84.3 percent, while the dropout rate was 2.4 percent.

HISD’s neighboring school districts, which include Aldine ISD and North Forest ISD, have yet to release their recent stats.

North Forest ISD was rated “Academically Unacceptable” in 2009 by TEA and, after being scheduled to close in 2012, was given another year to improve its finances and 2009 59 percent graduation rate.

Aldine ISD’s 2010 data showed that its graduation rate had improved from 69.2 percent in 2009 to 71.4 percent in 2010, an improvement, but still significantly below state averages.

“We all know the dropout rate remains a critical problem in our city, but we are making strong progress,” HISD Board President Michael Lunceford said in the release. “The students, with help from the school administrators and teachers, have made a concerted effort to stem the tide of dropouts.”

Although having stats below state averages, Houston public schools tend to have a larger portion of students who are low-income and minority students, and have been recognized for their achievements in educating this student demographic.

This year, HISD is a finalist for the Broad Prize for Urban Education and will find out in October if it wins.

HISD secondary schools in the Northeast News coverage area include: Houston High School, 9400 Irvington 77076, Henry Middle School, 10702 E. Hardy 77093, and Fonville Middle School, 725 E. Little York 77076.