Durham Public Schools reports increase in dropout rate
February 4, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Dr. Bert L’Homme, Associate Superintendent Instructional Services, 560-3716
DURHAM--The number of Durham Public Schools students dropping out of school rose during the 2001-02 academic year. The increase was fully expected by school officials after the state included students enrolled in the Graduation Equivalency Diploma program at Communities in Schools Academy in the dropout numbers.
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction reports that a total of 570 students in grades 7 through 12 left Durham Public Schools before graduating in 2001-02. Following are highlights of the state's report. This is higher than last year's total of 425, however: The 570 total includes 187 students who ultimately enrolled in programs that provided support services geared to encourage students to continue their education and/or seek full-time employment. They include several programs at Durham Technical Community College, the Connections program at Durham’s Communities in Schools Academy and other community programs. This would bring the total number of confirmed dropouts to 383 for the 2001-02 school year.
The 2001-02 official total of 570 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 adjusted total of 685 reported in September 2002.
Durham Public Schools' 2001-02 dropout rate of 4.23 percent for grades 7 through 12 remains the second lowest rate in the school district’s history. Durham Public Schools continues the relentless effort to reduce the dropout rate. The implementation of dropout plans custom designed for each school, the continuing success of Durham's Communities in Schools Academy, and the opening of the Lakeview School in 2000, which provides instruction for students who have been suspended for the long term, have contributed significantly to the district's success.
"Dropout prevention is critical to the success of Durham Public Schools' students, and to realizing our goal of closing the achievement gap by 2007," said Superintendent Ann T. Denlinger. "We will continue to examine our strategies around providing students the support they need to stay in school." ### Data Dropout Report available at www.ncpublicschools.org
