Just looking at the number of 9th graders enrolled in Dallas TX area schools and then looking at the number of 12th graders enrolled in the schools for school year 2010-2011, I wonder what is happening to all of the 9th graders. Schools report their completion rates usually in the 95-98% range, but that doesn't mesh with the actual number of enrolled students.
It looks like some 9th graders may be transferring to private schools, some may be transferring to At-Risk charter schools and some students are taking advantage of some alternative program their district offers (some listed here, some not, the programs aren't always publicized), but that doesn't account for all of these missing 9th grade students. Also, the number of 12th graders is not the same as the number of actual graduates. The number of graduates for 2010-2011 won't be released until next year.
Below is the number of 9th graders and the number of 12th graders ranked by percent change between the two numbers. Most are listed by high school, but in a few cases it is by district because of the way the schools are divided (Plano and HEB ISDs) or due to major shifting around of students due to new schools opening or other re-organizations (Frisco, Wylie, Keller, Forney ISDs and some schools in Dallas ISD).
% change - school (ISD) - # 9th graders - # 12th graders
Increases
+2,700.00% - New Direction Learning Center (Keller) - 1 - 28
+618.18% - Winfree/Denton (charter) - 11 - 79
+570.00% - Grimes Center (Carrollton-Farmers Branch) - 10 - 67
+338.46% - Crossroads Academy (private) - 13 - 57
+265.00% - Winfree/Grand Prairie (charter) - 20 - 73
+240.00% - Bending Oaks (private) - 5 - 17
+211.76% - Premier/Granbury (charter) - 17 - 53
+174.28% - Winfree/Irving (charter) - 35 - 96
+140.00% - The Alexander School (private) - 5 - 12
+75.00% - Education Center/Aubrey (charter) - 4 - 7
+70.17% - Fort Worth CAN Academy (charter) - 57 - 97
+64.86% - Garland Evening School (Garland) - 74 - 122
+47.61% - Willow Bend Academy (private) - 21 - 31
+40.00% - Faith Family/Waxahachie (charter) - 10 - 14
+30.76% - Cambridge (private) - 13 - 17
+30.00% - Winston (private LD school) - 20 - 26
+29.95% - Lincoln magnet (Dallas) - 207 - 269
+25.00% - Dallas Academy (private LD school) - 20 - 25
+21.42% - The Covenant School (private) - 14 - 17
+15.88% - Prestonwood Christian Academy (private) - 107 - 124
+11.11% - Wylie Preparatory Academy (private) - 9 - 10
+8.77% - Gunter (Gunter) - 57 - 62
+8.50% - Winfree/Lewisville - 47 - 51
+6.66% - Rockwall Christian Academy (private) - 15 - 16
+6.45% - Lakehill (private) - 31 - 33
+6.14% - Hockaday (private) - 114 - 121
+5.26% - Parish Episcopal (private) - 95 - 100
+4.34% - Cistercian (private) - 46 - 48
+4.00% - Business magnet (Dallas) - 125 - 130
+3.89% - Oakridge School (private) - 77-80
+3.57% - Talented/Gifted magnet (Dallas) - 56 - 58
+2.08% - Grace Preparatory Academy (private) - 48 - 49
Flat
no change - Canterbury Episcopal (private) - 18 - 18
no change - Great Lakes Academy (private LD school) - 8 - 8
no change - Prince of Peace Christian (private) - 72 - 72
Decreases
-1.05% - FW Country Day (private) - 95 - 94
-1.05% - Law magnet (Dallas) - 95 - 94
-1.89% - Highland Park (Highland Park) - 527 - 517
-1.98% - Episcopal School of Dallas (private) - 101 - 99
-2.15% - Evolution Academy (charter) - 93 - 91
-3.18% - HEB ISD - 1,540 - 1,491
-3.54% - Van Alstyne (Van Alstyne) - 113 - 109
-4.39% - Guyer (Denton) - 592 - 566
-4.50% - Flower Mound (Lewisville) - 799 - 763
-4.74% - Cedar Hill (Cedar Hill) - 569 - 542
-6.25% -St. Marks (private) - 96 - 90
-6.61% - Colleyville Heritage (Grapevine-Colleyville) - 590 - 551
-7.22% - Pottsboro (Pottsboro) - 83 - 77
-7.71% - North Garland (Garland) - 570 - 526
-7.96% - Greenhill (private) - 113 - 104
-8.10% - Carroll (Carroll) - 629 - 578
-8.18% - Naaman Forest (Garland) - 611 - 561
-8.42% - Grapevine (Grapevine-Colleyville) - 522 - 478
-8.77% - FW Academy Fine Arts (charter) - 57 - 52
-9.36% - Bishop Lynch (private) - 267 - 242
-9.40% - Ursuline (private) - 202 - 183
-9.44% - New Tech (Coppell) - 127 - 115
-9.52% - Waxahachie (Waxahachie) - 483 - 437
-9.52% - Canyon Creek Christian Academy (private) - 42 - 38
-9.70% - Science/Engineering magnet (Dallas) - 103 - 93
-10.18% - Liberty Christian Academy (private) - 108 - 97
-11.13% - Martin (Arlington) - 907 - 806
-11.23% - Argyle (Argyle) - 178 - 158
-11.76% - Trinity Christian School (private) - 85 - 75
-12.19% - Allen (Allen) - 1,410 - 1,238
-12.39% - Plano ISD - 4,318 - 3,783
-12.96% - Rowlett (Garland) - 679 - 591
-13.13% - Celina (Celina) - 137 - 119
-13.25% - Skyline (Dallas) - 1,230 - 1,067
-13.44% - Trinity Christian Academy (private) - 119 - 103
-13.75% - Anna (Anna) - 160 - 138
-13.95% - Sunnyvale (Sunnyvale) - 86 - 74
-14.00% - Berkner (Richardson) - 764 - 657
-14.12% - Boyd (McKinney) - 800 - 687
-14.28% - South Oak Cliff (Dallas) - 329 - 282
-14.31% - South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie) - 887 - 760
-14.32% - Marcus (Lewisville) 845 - 724
-14.36% - South Garland (Garland) - 529 - 453
-14.47% - Poteet (Mesquite) - 449 - 384
-14.57% - Health magnet (Dallas) - 151 - 129
-15.40% - Horn (Mesquite) - 623 - 527
-15.47% - Sachse (Garland) - 698 - 590
-15.78% - Garland Christian Academy (private) - 38 - 32
-15.63% - Seguin (Arlington) - 499 - 421
-16.26% - Frisco (Frisco) - 418 - 350
-16.60% - Jesuit (private) - 277 - 231
-16.86% - Howe (Howe) - 83 - 69
-17.46% - Commerce (Commerce) - 126 - 104
-17.88% - Denison (Denison) - 369 - 303
-17.94% - Westlake (charter) - 39 - 32
-18.60% - Dallas CAN/Pleasant Grove (charter) - 86 - 70
-18.60% - Covenant Christian Academy (private) - 43 - 35
-18.72% - Granbury (Granbury) - 470 - 382
-18.83% - Sunset (Dallas) - 653 - 530
-18.87% - Midlothian (Midlothian) - 657 - 533
-19.00% - The Colony (Lewisville) - 605 - 490
-19.45% - Lake Dallas (Lake Dallas) - 329 - 265
-19.48% - Coppell (Coppell) - 739 - 595
-19.60% - Early College (Dallas) - 102 - 82
-19.71% - Heath (Rockwall) - 558 - 448
-19.93% - Terrell (Terrell) - 301 - 241
-20.200% - Dallas Christian School (private) - 54 - 44
-20.54% - Booker T. Arts magnet (Dallas) - 219 - 174
-20.55% - Creekview (Carrollton-Farmers Branch) - 574 - 456
-20.89% - Lovejoy (Lovejoy) - 292 - 231
-20.92% - Garland (Garland ) - 779 - 616
-20.95% - Red Oak (Red Oak) - 525 - 415
-21.31% - North Hills (charter) - 122 - 96
-21.87% - Legacy (Mansfield) - 631 - 493
-22.10% - Fort Worth Christian School (private) - 95 - 74
-22.33% - Wylie ISD - 949 - 737
-22.64% - Adamson (Dallas) - 371 - 287
-22.68% - Early College (Carrollton-Farmers Branch) - 97 - 75
-22.88% - Richardson (Richardson) - 708 - 546
-23.12% - Dallas CAN Academy (charter) - 160 - 123
-23.37% - JJ Pearce (Richardson) - 599 - 459
-23.94% - Bowie (Arlington) - 944 - 718
-24.18% - Ennis (Ennis) - 459 - 348
-24.26% - Mansfield (Mansfield) - 684 - 518
-24.51% - Seagoville (Dallas) - 310 - 234
-24.54% - North Mesquite (Mesquite) - 721 - 544
-24.63% - North Dallas (Dallas) - 414 - 312
-24.77% - Melissa (Melissa) - 113 - 85
-25.00% - Sanger (Sanger) - 212 - 159
-25.13% - Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie) - 760 - 569
-25.50% - Greenville (Greenville) - 298 - 222
-25.92% - Ranchview (Carrollton-Farmers Branch) - 216 - 160
-26.00% - The Highlands School (private) - 50 - 37
-26.51% - Hebron (Lewisville) - 894 - 657
-26.72% - Carter (Dallas) - 363 - 266
-26.74% - Education magnet (Dallas) - 86 - 63
-26.84% - Keller ISD - 2,716 - 1,987
-27.27% - Kimball (Dallas ) - 341 - 248
-27.63% - Grapevine Faith Christian School (private) - 76 - 55
-27.69% - Frisco ISD - 2,441 - 1,765
-27.89% - Pinkston (Dallas) - 294 - 212
-28.93% - Rockwall (Rockwall) - 636 - 452
-29.42% - Little Elm (Little Elm) - 469 - 331
-29.69% - Aubrey (Aubrey) - 165 - 116
-29.81% - Lancaster (Lancaster) - 550 - 386
-29.84% - McKinney (McKinney) - 583 - 409
-29.85% - Fort Worth CAN Academy/River Oaks (chartr) - 67 - 47
-30.10% - Sherman (Sherman) - 475 - 332
-30.18% - Lewisville (Lewisville) - 1,080 - 754
-30.68% - Waxahachie Global magnet (Waxahachie) - 88 - 61
-30.79% - Royse City (Royse City) - 341 - 236
-30.92% - Forney ISD - 650 - 449
-31.03% - Yavneh (private) - 29 - 20
-31.08% - Mesquite (Mesquite) - 814 - 561
-31.40% - West Mesquite (Mesquite) - 535 - 367
-31.67% - Hillcrest (Dallas) - 322 - 220
-31.70% - McKinney Christian Academy (private) - 41 - 28
-32.31% - Princeton (Princeton) - 263 - 178
-32.51% - WT White (Dallas) - 695 - 469
-32.52% - Crandall (Crandall) - 246 - 166
-32.65% - Legacy Christian Academy (private) - 49 - 33
-32.88% - MacArthur (Irving) - 882 - 592
-32.90% - Corsicana (Corsicana) - 471 - 316
-33.33% - Fairhill (private, LD school) - 30 - 20
-33.43% - Samuel (Dallas) - 655 - 436
-33.44% - Arlington (Arlington) - 909 - 605
-33.53% - DeSoto (DeSoto) - 842 - 563
-33.94% - Ryan (Denton) - 604 - 399
-34.42% - Middle College (Dallas) - 61 - 40
-34.92% - Lake Highlands (Richardson) - 690 - 449
-35.29% - Lucas Christian Academy (private) - 34 - 22
-35.48% - Pantego Christian Academy (private) - 62 - 40
-35.65% - Nimitz (Irving) - 777 - 500
-35.77% - Timberview (Mansfield) - 777 - 499
-36.00% - Newman Smith (Carrollton-Farmers Branch) - 661 - 423
-36.09% - Summit (Mansfield) - 604 - 386
-36.22% - Duncanville (Duncanville) - 1,107 - 706
-36.30% - North (McKinney) - 482 - 307
-37.44% - Sam Houston (Arlington) - 948 - 593
-37.70% - Coram Deo Academy (private) - 61 - 38
-37.93% - Lakeview Centennial (Garland) - 717 - 445
-38.11% - Prosper (Prosper) - 328 - 203
-38.51% - Woodrow Wilson - 470 - 289
-38.98% - Winfree/Richardson (charter) - 59 - 36
-40.64% - Singley (Irving) - 497 - 295
-41.42% - Denton (Denton) - 548 - 321
-42.55% - Roosevelt (Dallas) - 235 - 135
-42.85% - Rangel girls (Dallas) - 56 - 32
-42.97% - Irving (Irving) - 761 - 434
-43.29% - Molina (Dallas) - 559 - 317
-43.50% - Lamar (Arlington) - 954 - 539
-44.04% - Bryan Adams (Dallas) - 638 - 357
-44.11% - Winfree/North Richland Hills (charter) - 102 - 57
-45.49% - Conrad (Dallas) - 510 - 278
-46.03% - Faith Family/Oak Cliff (charter) - 63 - 34
-46.15% - Balch Springs Christian Academy (private) - 13 - 7
-46.34% - Summit International Prep (charter) - 41 - 22
-46.99% - Thomas Jefferson (Dallas) - 449 - 238
-47.66% - RL Turner (Carrollton-Farmers Branch) - 642 - 336
-47.88% - Shelton (private, LD school) - 71 - 37
-49.12% - Bishop Dunne (private) - 171 - 87
-50.00% - Education Center/Little Elm (charter) - 20 - 10
-52.94% - Education Center/Denton (charter) - 17 - 8
-52.98% - Madison (Dallas) - 134 - 205
-54.16% - Temple Christian Academy (private) - 24 - 11
-59.09% - Brighter Horizons Academy (private) - 44 - 18
-63.06% - Williams Preparatory (charter) - 111 - 41
-64.94% - Peal Preparatory (charter) - 97 - 34
-67.14% - Pegasus (charter) - 70 - 23
-70.14% - Harmony Science Academy/Ft Worth (charter) - 67 - 20
-71.05% - Life School/Red Oak (charter) - 76 - 22
*The enrollment numbers for the private schools come from the Private School Preview website. Some private schools do not admit new students after 9th or 11th grades.
There are a couple of schools that only have 11-12th grades which will account for some of the students, but not all. For example, the charter school Richland Collegiate is only 11-12th grades. This school had 225 11th graders and 170 12th graders for a decrease of -24.44% between the two years. There is also TAMS charter school at the University of North Texas, which is a highly selective residential school for 11-12th graders and has a total enrollment of around 380.
Some high school students opt to enroll in a cyber school such as Texas Tech's online high school.