Federal data shows that while Texas is doing better than the national average, black male students statewide are still suspended nearly five times more frequently than whites.
A report released Friday by the U.S. Department of Education found that 14 percent of Texas black boys were suspended during the 2011-2012 school year. That's compared to 3 percent of white males and 6 percent of Hispanics.
The national average for suspensions among black males, though, was 20 percent --compared to 6 percent for whites and 9 percent for Hispanics.
Also, 10 percent of black female students in Texas were suspended, compared to 2 percent of whites and 3 percent of Hispanics.
Nationally, 12 percent of black girls were suspended, compared to 2 percent of whites and 4 percent of Hispanics.