A study conducted by the Manhattan Institute (2001) compares the dropout records of all 50 states and the country’s 50 largest school districts. Texas was 40^th and most of its biggest districts placed near the bottom in the study. While the national graduation rate is 71 percent, the study shows that Texas graduates 67 percent of its students while Dallas graduates only 52 percent.

Dropout rates and high school completion rates in Dallas County show marked differences among ethnic groups. The Manhattan Institute found the Hispanic graduation rate to be 56 percent compared with 59 percent African American and 76 percent White students.

References:
Graduation Rate by State
Graduation Rate by District
Ranking of Graduation Rates by State

Jay P. Greene, Ph. D.
Senior Fellow, The Manhattan Institute for Policy Research
Research Associate