Is Austin ISD Leading Major Texas Cities on Graduation Rates?

Our weekly check-in with the Texas Truth-O-Meter.
 

By Alain StephensJune 15, 2016 9:11 am,

An ad posted in Austin’s Erwin Center during June 2016 high school graduation ceremonies made us wonder: “Austin ISD has the highest graduation rate of every major city in Texas.”

Is that a fact? Gardner Selby of the PolitiFact Texas fact-checking team has the answer.

Asked the basis of the message, a spokesman for the Austin school district, Reyne Telles, said by phone that marketing officials focused on 2014 graduation rates for “signature” districts in the state’s five most populous cities.

For each district, Texas calculates one graduation rate by counting students in keeping with federal law and another rate that comports with state law.

Hear how the claim scored in the player above.