High School Attrition Rates across Texas Education Service Center Regions: 2009-10. IDRA Report

Attrition rates are an indicator of a school's holding power, or ability to keep students enrolled in school and learning until they graduate. This study examines regional trends in Texas for the number and percent of students lost from public high school enrollment prior to graduation. A comparative analysis of 1985-86, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 attrition rates in the 20 education service center (ESC) regions in Texas shows that five regions have persistently higher rates of losing students from public school enrollment and that racial-ethnic gaps have increased in all regions. In general, the "rate" of students lost has improved, while the "number" of students lost has increased. (Contains 22 exhibits.)