HOUSTON – For the fourth year in a row, HISD has seen a decline in dropouts and an increase in graduation rates.
According to preliminary Class of 2011 figures, HISD's latest dropout rate of 11.8 percent and four-year graduation rate of 78.5 percent are the highest since Texas launched a modern accountability system in 2007.
The district's overall enrollment has remained steady in that time period, but the number of annual graduates has risen.
Approximately 6,978 graduated in 2007 and 9,070 graduated in 2011. Overall, it's a 30 percent increase of 2,092 diplomas in four years.
Also since 2007, the number of freshman has declined by about 1,260 students and the number of juniors and seniors are on the rise.
HISD implemented efforts to reduce dropout rates such as the Grad Labs in high school, which was launched in 2010.