AUSTIN, Texas—Graduation rates for the Austin Independent School District have reached an all-time high of 84.1 percent for the Class of 2013, which is a 1.6 percentage point increase from the previous year and nearly a 10 percentage point gain during the past five years, according to the Texas Education Agency's new report on graduation and completion rates.

Graduation rates increased for every student population in AISD—across all ethnic groups and for English language learners and economically disadvantaged and special education students.

"As state performance standards continue to increase, AISD students are performing exceedingly well and graduating at record rates,” Paul Cruz, interim superintendent, said. “From pre-kindergarten through high school, our school communities are working hard to ensure all of our students have the support they need to reach their full potential—and to graduate. Simply put: As educators, we believe if one student does not complete high school, that is one student too many.”

AISD schools have developed an early warning system for guidance counselors and administrators to track student progress, and provide timely support and guidance when students are falling behind, missing classes, or having other issues that might interfere with their long-term success.

Throughout AISD, students who have faced educational challenges historically are making significant gains. Graduation rates for:

• Hispanic students increased by 2.3 percentage points, from 78.6 to 80.9 percent;
• African-American students increased by 2.5 percentage points to 82.1 percent;
• economically disadvantaged students increased by 2.6 percentage points to 81.5 percent;
• special education students increased by 2.9 percentage points to 66.5 percent; and
• English language learners increased by 5.4 percentage points to 69.5 percent.

Since 2008, graduation rates among AISD's high school seniors have risen steadily from 74.3 to 84.1 percent. Each year, the TEA reports graduation rates for the previous school year. Information for the past six years is included in the chart.

Graduation Rate Changes from 2012 to 2013 by Student Populations

All students—The graduation rate for all students increased by 1.6 percentage points, from 82.5 to 84.1 percent.

African-American students—The graduation rate for African-American students increased by 2.5 percentage points, from 79.6 to 82.1 percent.

Hispanic students—The graduation rate for Hispanic students increased by 2.3 percentage points, from 78.6 to 80.9 percent.

Economically disadvantaged students—The graduation rates for economically disadvantaged students increased by 2.6 percentage points, from 78.9 to 81.5 percent.

English language learners—The graduation rates for English language learners increased by 5.4 percentage points, from 64.1 to 69.5 percent.

Special education students—The graduation rates for special education students increased by almost 3 percentage points, from 63.6 to 66.5 percent.

White students—The graduation rates for white students increased by more than half of one percentage point, from 89.9 to 90.5 percent.

Source:  TEA data tables