Completion, Graduation, and Dropout Technical Documentation
Following is a list of documents that describe the technical specifications for calculation of longitudinal graduation and dropout rates in Texas public schools:
Four-Year Documentation, Class of 2023 (June 2024), PDF (268 KB)
Four-Year Documentation, Class of 2022 (June 2023), PDF (315 KB)
Four-Year Documentation, Class of 2021 (July 2022), PDF (298 KB)
Four-Year Documentation, Class of 2020 (June 2021), PDF (385 KB)
Four-Year Documentation, Class of 2019 (June 2020), PDF (123 KB)
Four-Year Documentation, Class of 2018 (June 2019), PDF (126 KB)
Four-Year Documentation, Class of 2017 (June 2018; Update September 2018), PDF (119 KB)
Four-Year Documentation, Class of 2016 (June 2017), PDF (125 KB)
Four-Year Documentation, Class of 2015 (November 2016), PDF (117 KB)
Four-Year Documentation, Class of 2014 (June 2015), PDF (284 KB)
Four-Year Documentation, Class of 2013 (June 2014), PDF (153 KB)
Four-Year Documentation, Class of 2012 (August 2013), PDF (240 KB)
Four-Year Documentation, Class of 2011 (November 2012), PDF (156 KB)
Four-Year Documentation, Class of 2010 (June 2011), PDF (142 KB)
Four-Year Documentation, Class of 2009 (June 2010), PDF (121 KB)
Four-Year Documentation, Class of 2008 (August 2008), PDF (190 KB)
Five-Year Documentation, Class of 2022 (June 2024), PDF (276 KB)
Five-Year Documentation, Class of 2021 (June 2023), PDF (327 KB)
Five-Year Documentation, Class of 2020 (July 2022), PDF (306 KB)
Five-Year Documentation, Class of 2019 (June 2021), PDF (384 KB)
Five-Year Documentation, Class of 2018 (June 2020), PDF (133 KB)
Five-Year Documentation, Class of 2017 (June 2019), PDF (135 KB)
Five-Year Documentation, Class of 2016 (June 2018; Update September 2018), PDF (129 KB)
Five-Year Documentation, Class of 2015 (June 2017), PDF (139 KB)
Five-Year Documentation, Class of 2014 (November 2016), PDF (129 KB)
Five-Year Documentation, Class of 2013 (June 2015), PDF (313 KB)
Five-Year Documentation, Class of 2012 (June 2014), PDF (163 KB)
Five-Year Documentation, Class of 2011 (August 2013), PDF (252 KB)
Five-Year Documentation, Class of 2010 (November 2012), PDF (152 KB)
Five-Year Documentation, Class of 2009 (June 2011), PDF (143 KB)
Five-Year Documentation, Class of 2008 (June 2010), PDF (124 KB)
Six-Year Documentation, Class of 2021 (June 2024), PDF (291 KB)
Six-Year Documentation, Class of 2020 (June 2023), PDF (346 KB)
Six-Year Documentation, Class of 2019 (July 2022), PDF (345 KB)
Six-Year Documentation, Class of 2018 (June 2021), PDF (470 KB)
Six-Year Documentation, Class of 2017 (June 2020), PDF (148 KB)
Six-Year Documentation, Class of 2016 (June 2019), PDF (145 KB)
Six-Year Documentation, Class of 2015 (June 2018; Update September 2018), PDF (140 KB)
Six-Year Documentation, Class of 2014 (June 2017), PDF (145 KB)
Six-Year Documentation, Class of 2013 (November 2016), PDF (139 KB)
Six-Year Documentation, Class of 2012 (June 2015), PDF (309 KB)
Six-Year Documentation, Class of 2011 (June 2014), PDF (167 KB)
Six-Year Documentation, Class of 2010 (August 2013), PDF (239 KB)
Following is a list of historical documents related to the development of longitudinal rate calculations:
The National Governors Association Compact Rate: A Comprehensive Approach to Improved Accuracy and Consistency in High School Graduation Rates, Class of 2010 Update (February 2012), PDF (172 KB)
The National Governors Association Compact Rate: A Comprehensive Approach to Improved Accuracy and Consistency in High School Graduation Rates, Class of 2009 Update (January 2011), PDF (248 KB)
The National Governors Association Compact Rate: A Comprehensive Approach to Improved Accuracy and Consistency in High School Graduation Rates (January 2010), PDF (185 KB)
Using the National Center for Education Statistics Dropout Definition for Texas Leaver Reporting (Updated May 2006), PDF (39 KB)
Working Paper No. 7. Profiles of Starting Cohort Members and Transfer Students in a Texas Public High School Cohort (January 2002), PDF (240 KB)
- The quantitative measure for each indicator in the Texas accountability system is a product of extensive development by Texas Education Agency staff, guided by educators, legislators, and business leaders, and grounded in the accountability system principles. One principle is accountability for all students, but because the indicators differ, the counts and groups of students included in the measures differ somewhat. For example, the indicators related to passing the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) include all students enrolled on the last Friday in October, whereas the annual dropout rates are based on all students in attendance during the year. In the course of developing the longitudinal student status rates as measures of the high school completion rate indicator, agency staff analyzed the counts and characteristics of students included in the measures. In this paper, comparisons of starting cohort members and transfer students are reported.
Working Paper No. 6. Three-Year Follow-up of a Texas Public High School Cohort (January 2002), PDF (290 KB)
- Since 2000, the Texas Education Agency has reported three groups of students-graduates, General Educational Development (GED) certificate recipients, and continuing students-in the longitudinal completion/student status rate for the district and state Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS) reports. Beginning in 2004, a longitudinal completion rate will be an indicator used to rate Texas public school and district performance. This report is intended to provide information about students who are still continuing high school after their expected graduation year and to inform the decision whether to include this student group in the definition of "high school completion" for Texas public school accountability purposes.
Working Paper No. 2. 1997-98 and 1998-99 Returning and Non-Returning Students in Grades 7-12 (June 2000)
- Prior to the 1997-98 school year, districts were required to report which students in Grades 7-12 had graduated, dropped out, or returned to school. Beginning with the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) Submission 1 in fall 1998, districts were required to report on all students enrolled in the district at any time during the previous school year in Grades 7-12. This report details the returning statuses of students for school years 1997-98 to 1998-99.
- This report is not available in PDF. For additional information please e-mail the Texas Education Agency Office of Publications or contact the office by phone at 512-463-9744.
Page last updated June 2024
Division of Research and Analysis
512-475-3523
research@tea.texas.gov