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Grade retention has been defined as requiring a child to repeat a particular grade or delaying entry to kindergarten or first grade. This definition of retention—repetition of a grade or delayed entry—applies primarily to Grades K-6. The same grade level in successive years in high school does not necessarily represent the repetition of a full year's curriculum as it does in elementary school. Secondary school programs are structured around individual courses. Because passing and failing are determined at the level of the course and credits are awarded for courses completed successfully, the concept of "grade level" becomes more fluid. Students who fail to earn credit in a single course or take fewer courses than required in one year may be classified at the same grade level in two consecutive years. Practices in Grades 7 and 8 may be like those in elementary school or like those in high school depending on local school district policies.

Grade-level retention data for the 2010-11 school year and later years are often presented in two separate annual reports, which are published sequentially, as the data become available. The Grade-Level Retention report presents data on grade-level retention by student characteristic and program participation while the Grade-Level Retention and Student Performance report presents data on the performance of retained students on the reading and mathematics state assessments (e.g., STAAR). In some years, assessment data are not available to produce the report on grade-level retention and student performance. In 2019-20, the format of the report on grade-level retention rates was changed from a PDF report to an interactive report.

ºÚÁÏÉç produces grade-level retention data at the campus, district, county, education service center (ESC) region and state level. Data searches and data downloads can be found on the Grade-Level Retention Data page. Additionally, reports on statewide grade-level retention are available. An interactive report, in which users can filter data, provides grade-level retention data by race/ethnicity, gender, economic status, and other student groups (e.g., at-risk, emergent bilingual, and special education). A companion report, Grade-Level Retention and Student Performance, presents data on the performance of retained students on the reading and mathematics state assessments (e.g., STAAR).

The Grade-Level Retention and Student Performance report, which presents data on the performance of retained students on the reading and mathematics state assessments (e.g., STAAR), can be found on the Grade-Level Retention Reports page.