Each year, TEA reports graduation rates for the previous school year. In AISD, graduation rates for 2011 have increased to 80 percent, according to TEA’s recently released report on graduation and completion rates for that year. Since 2008, graduation rates among AISD’s high school seniors have risen steadily, from 74.3 percent to 80 percent.
I am proud of our students, teachers and principals, who are working hard to continue to raise graduation rates for all students and remain committed to our goals. Higher graduation rates are critical to the success of our students, district and to the future of our local economy. This increase proves that AISD is on the right path in its efforts to ensure that all students will graduate ready for college, career and life in a globally competitive economy.
A study released earlier this year showed that if the number of students who fail to graduate from high school were cut in half in the Austin-Round Rock region, “the 3,050 extra graduates would earn up to $38 million more annually than they would spend without a diploma. ...With that extra income, those grads would be able to spend an estimated $28 million extra, and invest an additional $10 million. The group would ultimately spend an extra $59 million on home purchases, and $2.4 million annually on vehicles. This influx of spending would be enough to support as many as 300 new jobs, and would expand the region’s gross regional product by as much as $52 million. The increased wages and spending of the group would generate an additional $3.4 million in tax revenue during an average year.”
Congratulations to our hard working students and staff on this achievement!
