DPS reports slight increase in dropouts, following state trend
February 2, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Dr. Carl Harris, Associate Superintendent Instructional Services, 560-3716
DPS reports slight increase in dropouts, following state trend
DURHAM—The number of Durham Public Schools students dropping out of school increased slightly during the 2003-04 academic year. This follows an overall statewide trend, and the increase is marginal, especially when compared to those in other large school districts.
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction reports that a total of 578 students in grades 7 through 12 left Durham Public Schools before graduating in 2003-04, 33 more than the previous year’s total of 545 students, a 6 percent increase. The dropout rate is 4.02, up from 3.88 the year before.
There was a 5 percent jump in the number of students dropping out of school statewide (nearly 1,000 more students dropping out of school, from 19,834 to 20,817), and the statewide dropout rate rose from 3.23 to 3.29 over the last year. In addition, the Wake County Public School System saw 43 percent more students dropping out of school this year than last, while Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools observed a 12 percent jump and Guilford County Schools experienced a 9 percent increase.
The 2003-04 official total of 578 dropouts remains significantly lower than the total of 698 students who dropped out during the 1998-99 school year. It is also a notable decrease from the preliminary unadjusted total of 631 reported at the end of the 2002-03 school year. “We are concerned about the marginal increase in the number of students dropping out of school, but we are nonetheless very well aware that we are by no means alone in dealing with this issue,” said Superintendent Ann Denlinger. “We will continue to focus on programs and initiatives that will strengthen the support we give students, thereby encouraging them to stay in school and earn a diploma.”
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Data Dropout Report available at www.ncpublicschools.org
