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The district also made significant improvement with its Completion Rate. Completion rates for the high school class of 2008 are also accountability factors. Texas public schools began using the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) definition of school dropouts during the 2005-2006 school year. Under the state’s new definition, a non-completer is a student who is enrolled in public school in grades 9-12, does not graduate in four years or return to public school the following fall, is not expelled, or receives a GED certificate in lieu of a high school diploma.

In 2008 Round Rock ISD did not meet the minimum completion requirements for the Hispanic and Economically Disadvantaged student groups. Seventy-five percent of each student group rated (All Students, African American, Hispanic, White and Economically Disadvantaged) must meet completion requirements for the district to receive an Academically Acceptable rating. For Exemplary, 95 percent of all students and each student group must meet the completion requirements; for Recognized, 85 percent must meet the completion requirements.

“One year ago we implemented an aggressive dropout recovery plan to address the needs of students on the verge of dropping out,” Dr. Chávez said. “Our four High School Completion Specialists and our Dropout Prevention/Recovery Director are directly responsible for the significant gains we made in recapturing students.”

Completion Rate

*Used to calculate 2009 academic rating
** Used to calculate 2008 academic rating

The class of 2008 included 2,516 students, of which 92 percent of the students completed high school within four years. All RRISD students and each student group except for Economically Disadvantaged met the 85 percent Recognized standard. The state allows ratings to be increased if “required improvement” is met in lieu of reaching the 85 percent standard. The Economically Disadvantaged student group met the required improvement which allowed RRISD to be rated Recognized. “We still have challenges to overcome in our future but we have the right team in place to make the needed improvements.” Dr. Chávez said.

Districts are also rated on the Annual Dropout Rate which is a one-year measure calculated by summing the number of dropouts in grades 7 and 8. Round Rock ISD is not rated on this indicator because it did not meet the minimum student size requirement to be rated. For 2009 at least 5 students must have dropped out in order to be rated.

Base indicators for determining the accountability ratings are:

• TAKS percentage meeting standard
Exemplary, 90 percent of all students and each student group must meet standards in each tested subject; for Recognized, 75 percent of all students and each student group must meet standards in each tested subject; and for Academically Acceptable, 70 percent must meet passing standards for reading/ELA, writing and social studies; 55 percent must meet passing standards in math; and 50 percent must meet passing standards in science.

• Completion Rate I
For Exemplary, 95 percent of all students and each student group must meet the completion rate requirements; for Recognized, 85 percent completion rate; for Academically Acceptable, 75 percent completion rate.

• Annual dropout rate (Grades 7-8)
All students and each student group must meet 2.0 percent dropout rate standard for all 3 categories -Exemplary, Recognized and Academically Acceptable. 2009 State Accountability Ratings Round Rock ISD District Rating – Recognized.