Methodology
Students who complete all requirements to receive a high school diploma during the school year are included in this report. Data are summarized as totals and percentages by school year and diploma type. (Source: TEA PEIMS high school graduates) This report is available by legislative district (U.S. Congressional, Texas House, Texas Senate, and State Board of Education - SBOE) as well as by individual school district, educational service center (ESC) region, and state levels.
The Texas state public school graduation requirements vary depending on what school year the student entered grade 9. Graduation plans and requirements have changed over the years. For specific Texas state high school graduation requirements, visit the Texas Education Agency website at https://tea.texas.gov/index2.aspx?id=5324.
Data Elements
District Type:
- Independent School District (ISD)/Common School District (CSD)
- Open Enrollment Charter School District
Education Service Center (ESC) Region:
Texas is divided into 20 geographic regions that are served by regional Education Service Centers (ESC). Education service center region denotes the region from which the school district receives educational services. This is not necessarily the service center assignment based upon geographic location, although in most cases they are the same.
School District:
Texas public school district that reported the graduate.
School Year:
The reporting period consisting of the fall, spring, and summer semesters that begins generally in September and runs through the following August. Fall 2001, spring 2002 and summer 2002 comprise school year 2001-2002, also referred to as school year 2002.
Texas state High School Graduation Plans:
For specific Texas state high school graduation requirements effective over time, visit the Texas Education Agency website at https://tea.texas.gov/index2.aspx?id=5324.
- Advanced - The Advanced Graduation Program began in the 1983-1984 school year and has been collected from the 1990-1991 school year. This program changed in the 1994-1995 school year. It was no longer available for students who entered grade 9 in the 1996-1997 school year and thereafter.
- Advanced Honors - This graduation program has been collected from the 1990-1991 school year. This program was no longer available for students who entered grade 9 in the 1996-1997 school year and thereafter.
- Distinguished Achievement - This Graduation program has been collected from the 1995-1996 school year forward. It was available to students who entered grade 9 in the 1994-1995, 1995-1996, or 1996-1997 school years and the requirements changed for students entering grade 9 in the 1997-1998 school year. Requirements have changed over subsequent years for students entering grade 9 in specific school years. This program is no longer available for students entering grade 9 in the 2014-2015 school year and thereafter.
- Foundation High School Program - This graduation program became available as an option for students graduating during the 2014 school year. It became the default graduation program for all students entering ninth grade beginning with the 2014-2015 school year and thereafter.
- Individualized Education Program (IEP) - This category refers to graduates receiving a diploma who had an individualized education program and completed graduation curriculum requirements with modifications for students receiving special education services. This category includes special education students who completed their IEP and met one of the following conditions:
- Obtained full-time employment with sufficient self-help skills to maintain employment without public school services,
- Demonstrated mastery of specific employability and self-help skills that do not require public school services,
- Has access to services, employment, or education outside of public education, or
- Reached age 22.
- Minimum - The Minimum High School Program requirements affected students who entered grade 9 in the 1994-1995, 1995-1996 and 1996-1997 school years. Requirements for this program changed for students who entered grade 9 in the 1997-1998 school year. Requirements have changed over subsequent years for students entering grade 9 in specified school years. This program is no longer available for students entering grade 9 in the 2014-2015 school year and thereafter. For this report, the Regular High School Graduation Program is combined with the Minimum High School Program results.
- Recommended - This graduation program started in the 1994-1995 school year and these data have been collected from the 1994-1995 school year forward. Requirements for this program changed for students who entered grade 9 in the 1997-1998 school year. Requirements have changed over subsequent years for students entering grade 9 in specified school years. This program is no longer available for students entering grade 9 in the 2014-2015 school year and thereafter.
- Regular - The Regular High School Graduation Program is available only to students who entered grade 9 in 1995-1996 and before. Data for this program were collected from the 1990-1991 school year forward and are combined with the Minimum High School Graduation Program results on the report.