3 Jun 2011
Highest Number of Graduates Since 1983
DALLAS—The Dallas Independent School District is projected to graduate well over 7,000 students this school year, the most in nearly 30 years.
This is the fourth consecutive year that the number of Dallas ISD graduates has risen.
"Anyone associated with the Dallas Independent School District should take great pride in knowing that more students are graduating from our schools," said Superintendent of Schools Michael Hinojosa. "Education is about providing opportunities for students to be successful, and when more are earning their diplomas, it is better for both them and the entire community."
Current projections put the number of spring graduates from Dallas ISD at 6,982, the highest figure since 1983. On average, roughly 200 more students graduate over the summer.
The number of graduates has risen steadily since 2007, when 5,854 students earned their diplomas. Since then, the figure has increased each year, from 6,386 in 2008 to 6,602 in 2009 and 6,984 in 2010. The current projection puts the total number of graduates in 2011 at approximately 7,200.
"What is even more significant about this figure is how the school district has changed since 1983," said Hinojosa. "Ethnic minorities are now the vast majority and the fact that they are earning their diplomas bodes well for them in the future, as well as future generations."
Hinojosa gave credit to the board of trustees, principals, teachers, parents and other staff for the increase in the number of graduates.
"As I have said on a number of occasions, there is no silver bullet for making positive changes in public education; it is an accumulation of a lot of different things," said Hinojosa. "The board's approval of investing in collaborative planning time for teachers at the secondary level has paid big dividends, as has the relative stability of the leaders serving as principals in our schools. The expansion of early college campuses has also helped."
While the number of graduates has increased, the number of students enrolled in Dallas ISD during the last four years has slightly declined. The overall percentage of students graduating compared to overall enrollment is also at its highest since the mid-1980s.
A spreadsheet showing the history of the number of graduates in Dallas ISD dating back to 1970 is attached.