Attrition and Dropout Rates in Texas

Much has changed in 23 years…
     but the dropout rate hasn't.

See short video.

• IDRA’s annual attrition study finds that in 2008-09, Texas schools lost 31 percent of their students. In IDRA’s 1985-86 inaugural study, 33 percent of students were lost.
• The attrition rate gaps between White students and Black students and between White students and Hispanic students persist. The gap today is higher than 24 years ago.
• Since IDRA’s first study, more than 2.9 million students have been lost from public schools.
• Texas schools are losing a student every four minutes.
• At current pace, the state will lose an additional 2.3 million to 6 million students before reaching an attrition rate of zero in 2042.

Communities and their neighborhood public schools can turn the tide. Together we can and must guarantee that every child graduates from high school ready for college and the world of work.

Receive IDRA’s Graduation for All free bilingual (Spanish/English) monthly e-letter to get up-to-date information to make a difference in your school and community.

See the study’s key findings in Spanish.