An estimated 146,714 students were lost from enrollment due to attrition. In 1986, IDRA conducted Texas first comprehensive statewide study of high school dropouts. IDRA s attrition studies involve the analysis of ninth grade enrollment figures and 12th grade enrollment figures three years later. This period represents the time span during which a ninth grade student would be enrolled in high school prior to graduation. Historical Attrition Data Longitudinal statewide attrition rates are categorized by race and ethnicity.
General conclusions follow.
Over the past 15 years, attrition rates have fluctuated between 31 percent and 43 percent. Hispanic students and Black students have had considerably higher attrition rates than White students. Hispanic students are lost from enrollment at higher rates than either White students or Black students. During this same period, the attrition rates for Black students have increased by 38 percent, from 34 percent to 47 percent. The longitudinal attrition rates for students who are Hispanic, Black or Native American have been typically higher than the overall attrition rates.