When would an attrition rate be used to estimate dropouts?
When student-level data are unavailable, or comparisons are needed among entities that do not collect student-level data, the attrition rate may be the only measure available. For example, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) does not calculate longitudinal graduation rates based on student-level data. Instead, NCES uses aggregate enrollment and graduation counts to calculate the averaged freshman graduation rate for Texas and other states. Because student-level data allow for the greatest level of accuracy in dropout reporting, Texas includes the annual and longitudinal dropout rates in the public school accountability rating system. Since it is an estimate, the attrition rate is excluded from the accountability system. For more detailed information about attrition and averaged freshman graduation rates, see the TEA Annual Report on Secondary School Completion and Dropouts.
