AUSTIN — Today, the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics released figures that showed Texas' high school graduation rate of 88 percent was tied for the second-highest rate in the nation. These figures showed Texas far surpassing the national average rate of 81 percent.

In 2011, Hinojosa passed Senate Bill 975, the Statewide Dropout Recovery Bill, to expand statewide a successful dropout recovery program developed at Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD. PSJA was plagued by a dropout rate twice the Texas average before implementing the program, but thanks to the efforts of Superintendent Dr. Daniel P. King and the community's response, PSJA reduced its dropout rate by 80 percent.

Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa issued the following statement:

"The release of this educational data shows that Texas continues to improve in preparing our students to enter the workforce or to pursue higher education. Although Texas annually leads the nation in job creation, it must ensure its younger generations have the education and skills-training necessary to meet the demand.

By providing other Texas schools the same blueprint that offered PSJA students a second chance at a diploma, Senate Bill 975 has helped connect Texas youth to the attainable goal of graduating from high school. While these numbers continue a positive trend, the state must ensure all of its high school students have the opportunity for an education and successful career."

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