76% of Austin ISD students graduate from high school in four years

We have the education, skills and opportunities to achieve our full potential and lead meaningful, joyful lives.

Indicator: % of Austin ISD students who graduate from high school in four years

Significance of Indicator: While some students who do not graduate in four years continue high school or earn their G.E.D.s, many others become high school dropouts. The E³ Alliance conservatively estimates that the cost of a single class year of dropouts in Central Texas is $435 million.

what the data tell us

The Austin Independent School District had the lowest four year graduation rate of the five largest school districts in our five county area for the classes of 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009.

Definition: Four year completion rate for grades 9-12

Data Source: Texas Education Agency

Data Considerations: This data only includes students who graduated from high school in four years. It does not include students who received their GEDs. This data is not directly comparable to graduation rate data produced for prior graduation classes due to changes in data definitions by the Texas Education Agency.

The Story Behind the indicator

The graduation rate for AISD increased for the first time in four years. While this is a promising movement, the fact remains that nearly one in four Austin ISD students are not graduating from high school in four years. Analyzing the data further reveals that there are significant gaps between the graduation rates of Asian/Native American/White students and the graduation rates of African American and Hispanic students. Economically disadvantaged students have historically lagged behind the non-economically disadvantaged students in four year graduation. Data for the class of 2009 shows some changes in graduation rates by economic status. To learn more about the story behind the graduation rates in our community, click here.

Some local efforts to improve this indicator

The Austin Independent School District's Strategic Plan 2010-2015 includes goals related to the graduation rate.
The E³ Alliance's Blueprint for Educational Change seeks to improve educational outcomes across the Central Texas region from pre-k through college through a collaborative process that engages parents, students, school personnel and members of the larger community.
The Ready By 21 Coalition in Austin/Travis County has developed a detailed dashboard of outcomes and indicators for children and youth which includes this graduation rate indicator.
The Truancy Plus Working Group of Austin ISD, the City of Austin, and Travis County is working to identify ways to improve school attendance and address truancy.

A Closer look at the story behind the indicators

The four year graduation rate for the Class of 2009 was 67% for Hispanics, 70% for African Americans, 85% for Native Americans, 89% for Whites, and 92% for Asians and Pacific Islanders. The E3 Alliance reports that ethnic students are retained at much higher rates than white students regardless of income. This is one of many factors that contribute to different four-year graduation rates for different races.

Four Year Graduation Rate for Austin ISD by Race/Ethnicity

Definition: Four year completion rate for grades 9-12 by race/ethnicity

Data Source: Texas Education Agency

In AISD's Class of 2009, the four year graduation rate for non-economically disadvantaged students decreased by 7% while the four year graduation rate for the economically disadvantaged students increased by 14%. Further analysis is needed to determine the reason for these sudden shifts in graduation rates.

Definition: Four year completion rate for grades 9-12 by economic status.

Data Source: Texas Education Agency

% of Austin ISD Students Graduating in Four Years by Economic Status