Over the past three years, more students have attended classes in Victoria public schools.

The 2.3-percent increase in attendance comes with an additional 638 new students to the district since the 2010-11 school year.

VISD superintendent Robert Jaklich presented the numbers to members of the Victoria Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon Wednesday afternoon.

An increase in parent involvement and participation in extracurricular activities deserve credit for the increase, Jaklich said.

He also projected a 6-percent increase in the district's graduation rate for this year.

The projection is based on results from data from the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills and the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, which won't be final until January, after winter exams are completed.

Jaklich also emphasized a district-first for VISD - this year, the administration provided high school campuses with additional funding for preliminary SAT examinations. The tests are taken by high school sophomores and juniors.

"Education is the key to our community's future," said Randy Vivian, Victoria Chamber of Commerce president and CEO. "We've got to be involved, it's too important to ignore."

In other business, the chamber unveiled its new website and encouraged members to post their business events to the site's calendar.

"It's the product of many sleepless nights," Vivian said.

Shilo Monney, member of the chamber's website committee, guided members through the site's index.

"We obviously want advertisers to help pay for maintenance," Monney said. "But we also want people to know what's going on around the city."

• Student Enrollment

  13,905 - 2010-11 school year

  14,421 - 2011-12 school year

  14,543 - 2012-13 school year

  Student Attendance Rate

  94 percent - 2010-11 school year

  94.5 percent - 2011-12 school year

  96.3 percent - 2012-13 school year

  Increased Student Involvement

  2007-08

  216 - Number of activities

  7,780 - Number of participants

  2008-09

  279 - Number of activities

  10,562 -Number of participants

  2009-10

  328 - Number of activities

  12,883 - Number of participants

  2010-11

  408 - Number of activities

  16,045 - Number of participants

  2011-12

  441 - Number of activities

  16,942 - Number of participants

  [SOURCE: VISD]