Attrition and Dropout Rates in Texas
Texas public schools are losing one out of five students.
Each year, IDRA releases its attrition study. Attrition rates are an indicator of a school’s holding power, the ability to keep students enrolled and learning until they graduate. Key findings from the latest study show the following.
- Texas is failing to graduate one out of every five high school students, meaning one in five freshmen disappeared by their senior year.
- The statewide attrition rate in 2024-25 jumped three points to 21%.
- Texas public high schools lost 95,984 students from the 2021-22 freshman class in 2024-25. Latino students accounted for 66% of the students lost to attrition.
- Texas schools have lost a cumulative total of more than 4.3 million students from public high school enrollment since 1985-86.
- Schools’ attention to dropout prevention, however, has been showing promise. From the initial study 40 years ago to the present, the attrition rate gap between Latino students and their white peers has been cut in half from 18 percentage points to 9 percentage points.
- Studies show that the strongest school-related predictor of dropping out is poor academic performance. Students perform better in school if they feel welcome, safe and secure.
IDRA published a supplemental analysis finding that Texas charter school districts continue to lose students at substantially higher rates than traditional public schools.
See reporter FAQs and resources regarding attrition and dropout data (and downloadable graphics).
Quick Links to IDRA’s Attrition Study Stories and Resources
Attrition Study 2024-25: Texas Public School Attrition Study, 2024-25 – High School Attrition Rate Worsens with Biggest Jump in Four Decades, by Christina Quintanilla-Muñoz & Joanna Sánchez
Feature Article by CEO: 4.3 Million Texas Students Lost Across 40 Years of IDRA’s Attrition Studies – IDRA President & CEO Reflects on Unrealized Potential, Renewed Urgency, by Celina Moreno, J.D.
Infographic: Texas Public School Attrition 2024-25
Analysis article: Dropout Rate for Texas Charter Schools Triples the State Rate – IDRA Attrition Analysis Shows Charter Schools Lose 44% of their Black Students, by Christina Quintanilla-Muñoz
News Release: Charter Schools Account for Nearly One in Five Texas Dropouts – IDRA analysis finds charter schools lose 44% of Black students
Infographic: Pomp and Poor Circumstances – IDRA Charter School Study 2026 – Infographic
Infographic: 8 Types of Dropout Data Defined
Infographic: 6 Policies and Practices that Lead to Higher Dropout Rates
Infographic: A Legacy of Valuing Students
Trend graphs: See attrition rates and numbers over 10 years
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Additional Resources
Book: Courage to Connect: A Quality Schools Action Framework
Overview of the Valued Youth Partnership program, which keeps 98 percent of students in school (PDF)
Ideas and Strategies for Action
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the attrition rate show?
How many students leave school before graduating high school.
Why is this year’s decline notable?
The statewide attrition rate in 2024-25 jumped three points to 21%.
Do disparities still exist?
Yes. Students of color are still about 1.5 times as likely to leave school without graduating.
How many students did Texas lose this year?
95,984 students. Latino students accounted for 66% of students lost to attrition, even though they make up 47% of total student enrollment.
What helps keep students in school?
Supportive school climates, rigorous coursework, strong advising and equitable funding.
Is attrition the same as dropout rates?
IDRA’s attrition study measures the percentage of students who are lost from public school enrollment before graduating. While attrition and dropout rates are calculated differently, attrition is widely used as an indicator of high school dropout trends and student persistence through graduation.
2023-24 Attrition Study
Look Up Your County for 10 Year Trend Graphs
6 Policies and Practices that Lead to Higher Dropout Rates 
