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For example, AISD’s graduation rate is at an all-time high: 82.5 percent in 2012, up from its lowest at 74.3 percent in 2008. And, gains in graduation rates for students who have typically had lower graduation rates are even more impressive. When viewed over a four-year period, you can see increases like 7.1 percentage points for Special Education students, 13.9 percentage points for African Americans, 14.7 percentage points for Hispanic students—and English Language Learners closed the gap by a whopping 27.6 percentage points. I applaud the tremendous progress our students, teachers, support staff, principals and other administrators have made.

This is an amazing achievement we should celebrate. ������ýapp’s demographics are changing—and we must do everything we can to help every student—especially our most vulnerable students. In AISD, we have been planting seeds and growing graduation rates that will continue to pay off over time. 

Headlines simply can never tell the whole story. So while there is always work to be done, the achievements from our work may not always be made clear. Please speak to your principal or teacher if you have any questions about your school. You can always email me directly at superintendent@austinisd.org or call my office at 512-414-2416.

But, in honor of LBJ’s birthday, I am reminded about his clear-headed understanding of the press’ role in covering administrations. LBJ said, “If one morning I walked on top of the water across the Potomac River, the headline that afternoon would read: 'President Can't Swim.'”

Here in ������ýapp, with Lady Bird Lake just a stone’s throw away, I know we have team members across the district who not only will walk on water but they will swim, dive, snorkel, fish, water ski, sail or boogie board, if they have to, to get one more child graduated.

At AISD, we are committed to looking past the headline to focus on the bottom line: our students’ success— today and in the future. After all, we have LBJ’s army of “doers and builders” who “take up the front line” every day to ensure progress. Like LBJ, we can all take responsibility for correcting many past wrongs by focusing on our strengths and moving forward for the future: “Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose. I am resolved to win the tomorrows before us.”

Welcome back and thank you, ������ýapp, for all you do for children and families every day. Blessings and have a great school year!