Southeast Texas P-16 Council

The Texas high school on-time graduation rate for the Class of 2010 soared to84.3 percent, the highest rate posted during the TAKS-testing era and an increase of 3.7 percentage points over the previous year.

Each of the state’s four major ethnic groups showed strong gains. Rates for AfricanAmerican and Hispanic students increased five percentage points or more over the past year.

Graduation rates for African-American students rose from 73.8 percent for the Class of 2009 to 78.8 percent for the Class of 2010.

Hispanic students’ graduation rates were 73.5 percent in 2009, climbing to 78.8 percent for the Class of 2010. Graduation rates for white and Asian students surpassed the 90 percent mark with the rate for white students at 91.6 percent while Asian/Pacific Islander students earned the highest rate at 93.8 percent.

“Texas continues to see improvements in public education as we work to strengthen accountability and raise standards in our schools,” said Gov. Rick Perry. “I am incredibly proud of this recent achievement, a true testament to the excellent educators that we have in our classrooms and the principled leadership that guides our state. I am confident we will continue to see remarkable progress in our schools that will sustain our educated workforce and build a stronger, more prosperous Texas.”

“Our students are staying in school, accepting the challenge and meeting high achievement goals. It’s clear that our dedicated educators are providing students a strong foundation on which to build their future. We will continue to provide the tools necessary to maintain this outstanding progress,” said Commissioner of Education Robert Scott.

Graduation rates for local districts and schools will be available in late July.

Jane Dunn, a chemistry teacher at Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School in the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Consolidated ISD is one of six outstanding Texas educators chosen as finalists in the Texas Teacher of the Year program.

The six finalists who have a combined 127 years of teaching experience – three elementary and three secondary school educators – were selected from the 40 regional Teachers of the Year from each of the state’s 20 education service center areas. The finalists will now contend for the honor of being named Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year and Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year award from the TEA.

The winners will be announced at an Oct. 15 luncheon at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center at 1900 MLK Blvd. on the University of Texas-Austin campus.

The top two teachers will receive a $5,000 cash prize, a technology package valued at more than $16,500, a computer, a trophy, a travel allowance and other mementos. A $500 cash prize is awarded to the remaining 38 regional Teachers of the Year.

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