The class of 2013 Texas high school on-time graduation rate was 88 percent, the highest on record and 0.3 percentage points higher than the previous record set by the class of 2012, Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams announced on Aug. 5.
The figures are included in the Texas Education Agency report, Secondary School Completion and Dropouts in Texas Public Schools, 2012-13.
“We’ve set the bar high for Texas students to ensure every graduate is ready for college or career, and they have consistently demonstrated that they are up to the challenge,” commented Gov. Rick Perry.
Williams pointed out that graduation rates for African-American, Hispanic and white students have increased steadily since the class of 2007.
Out of 2,189,442 students who attended Grades 7-12 in Texas public schools during the 2012-13 school year, 1.6 percent were reported to have dropped out that year, a decrease of 0.1 percentage points from 2011-12, Williams said.
In other news, the Texas Education Agency on Aug. 8 released the 2014 state school accountability ratings for more than 1,200 school districts and charters, and more than 8,500 campuses. Ninety percent of school districts and charters across Texas achieved the rating of “Met Standard.”
Sales tax revenue increases
State sales tax revenue in July was $2.34 billion, up 6.3 percent compared to July 2013, state Comptroller Susan Combs reported Aug. 6.
“The growth in sales tax revenues reflected strength in both business and consumer spending,” Combs said. “The increase was led by remittances from the construction, services, and oil and natural gas-related sectors, as well as from retail trade and restaurants. Fiscal year-to-date, state sales tax collections are now up 5.3 percent.”
Cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts will receive August local sales tax allocations totaling $706.9 million, up 5.3 percent compared to August 2013, Combs said.
Many new businesses open
Texas Secretary of State Nandita Berry on July 30 released numbers charting new Texas businesses in the first half of 2014.
“Texas continues to show strong economic performance month after month,” Berry said. “That performance can be seen in the high number of businesses formations filed with my office since the beginning of this year.”
From Jan. 1 through June 30, Berry’s office received filings for 80,039 new businesses, an 11 percent increase compared to the same time period in 2013.
SpaceX to receive incentive
Gov. Rick Perry on Aug. 4 announced the state is offering $2.3 million from the Texas Enterprise Fund to lure a SpaceX commercial rocket launch facility to a site near Brownsville in Cameron County.
Contingent upon final approval of local agreements and receipt of additional required permits, this facility will create 300 jobs and pump $85 million in capital investment into the local economy, Perry said.
Perry has met with SpaceX founder Elon Musk and provided letters in support of SpaceX in efforts to get Federal Aviation Administration clearance for the site.
Since 2003, SpaceX has operated a rocket development facility in McGregor that currently employs more than 250 people.
Ed Sterling works for the Texas Press Association and follows the Legislature for the organization.
edsterling@texaspress.com
