Georgetown ISD sees improved dropout rate, higher graduation rate in state report

Wes Vanicek, Georgetown ISD chief strategist for assessment and feedback, presented findings from the 2019-20 Texas Academic Performance Report to the board during a Feb. 23 meeting.

The TAPR pulls together a range of information on the performance of students in each school and district in Texas every year. Performance is shown disaggregated by student groups, including ethnicity and socioeconomic status, according to the Texas Education Agency website.

The report also compares the district to state and regional districts. GISD is in region 13.

The report is typically two school years behind and does not yet show the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on student learning or district data, officials said. With the state waiving the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness testing requirement in spring 2020 due to the pandemic, that data is missing as well, officials said.

However, the report did find the district reduced its high school dropout rate from 0.6% in the 2017-18 school year to 0.5% in the 2018-19 school year.

GISD also reported a higher graduation rate at 96% for the class of 2019, compared to the state rate of 90% and the region rate of 93%.

“I think that’s just a testament to all of our high school employees and staff and parents and students who are involved to make sure students graduate,” Vanicek said.

The full report can be viewed online on the TEA website or via a print copy at each campus and the Hammerlun Center for Leadership and Learning building, located at 507 E. University Ave., Georgetown.