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Education experts: LISD college graduation stats outdated

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Accurate statistics can be hard to pin down, especially in a school district that is growing as rapidly as Leander ISD. A statistic cited in an April 1 candidate forum said that only 17 percent of LISD graduates obtain bachelor's degrees. That statistic could be significantly outdated, however.

The data came from a study of college completion rates by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). It covered a six-year period, tracking the number of bachelor's degrees for the high school class of 1997 through the year 2000. The study does not contains any data more recent than 2000.

Leander High School was the only high school in the district when the study began. LISD has since added Cedar Park and Vista Ridge high schools; Rouse High School opens next year, and High School #5 opens the following year.

According to the Texas Education Agency, LISD has grown 50 percent in the last five years. The district has also grown more diverse, with the number of economically disadvantaged students increasing from 15 percent to 19 percent.

“It can be difficult to get data from fast-growing districts like Leander, Hutto and Round Rock,” said Hannah Gourgey, Ph.D. Director of Analysis and Alignment of Austin-based E3 (Education Equals Economics) Alliance. “What you get may not be representative of the student population now.”

Gourgey said the data did not include data for LISD students who opted not to attend college. With that data included, the number obtaining bachelors degrees increases to 34 percent. “I still don't think 34 percent is a good number, but it's an example of how statistics can truly bedevil you,” she said.

The THECB also does not include data for students who attend college outside Texas. “So, the enrollment and graduation rates do NOT include a significant percentage of students,” Gourgey said. “Typically the range of students omitted because they attend out of state is between 7 and 10 percent.”

Gourgey said enrollment data might be more useful when studying LISD students' college success. “Leander has one of the highest college enrollment rates in the region” at about 60 percent, she said, up about 10 percent since 2000.

“It's good data, but it doesn't include everybody,” said Leander ISD Transition Administrator Camille Clay. “This district has changed a lot since 2000.” She said LISD has taken steps to increase college preparation. Steps include having all 10th and 11th graders take the PSAT; open enrollment in the International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement programs; and participation in the Texas Scholars Program, which encourages students to take more rigorous courses.

“LISD also instituted a higher-level graduation plan,” she said. “We were proactive about requiring four maths and sciences before the state went to the ‘4 by 4' plan.” The “4 by 4” plan, requires students to have four years each of math and science.

E3 (Education Equals Economics) Alliance is a non-profit group dedicated to education reform. It is based at Austin Community College, but is independent from the school. For more information about the organization, visit www.www.e3alliance.org.

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