Crime, dropout rates increase in NC Schools

Published February 25, 2016

by Kelly Hinchcliffe, WRAL.com, February 25, 2016.

Crime and dropout rates in North Carolina public schools increased last year, according to a new report released Wednesday.

The state's overall crime rate in schools increased 1.5 percent from 2013-14 to 2014-15 and 6.6 percent at the high school level. The dropout rate increased 4.8 percent during the same time period.

A spokeswoman for the state Department of Public Instruction declined to comment on the report, saying, "we would not typically comment before this is presented to the board." The State Board of Education is expected to discuss the report at next week's meeting on Thursday.

Among the report's findings:

Reportable crimes

The high school crime rate increased 6.6 percent. However, there was a decrease in crimes by students in lower grades.

Crimes were most frequently committed by students who were ninth graders and male. Among ethnic groups in high school, American Indian students had the highest rate of school crimes, followed by black students.

School districts reporting zero grade 9-13 crimes were: Elkin City, Jones County, Tyrrell County and Washington County. Grade 13 includes students in early college high school.

Of the school districts with more than zero crimes, those with the lowest rates of grade 9-13 crimes were: Cherokee County, Columbus County, Bertie County, Roanoke Rapids City, Dare County and Gates County.

School districts with the highest rates of grade 9-13 crimes were: Transylvania County, Warren County, Perquimans County, Yadkin County, Asheville City, Greene County, Chatham County, Brunswick County, McDowell County and Buncombe County.

School districts reporting the largest three-year decreases in rates of grade 9-13 crimes were: Elkin City, Jones County, Tyrell County, Washington County and Cherokee County.

School districts with the largest three-year increases in rates of grade 9-13 crimes were: Swain County, Newton Conover City, Warren County, Edenton/Chowan and Greene County. Although Newton Conover City and Edenton/Chowan had large increases, their 2014-15 grade 9-13 crime rates were below the state average.

The most frequently reported crimes in high school were 1) possession of a controlled substance in violation of the law, 2) possession of a weapon excluding firearms and powerful explosives, and 3) possession of an alcoholic beverage.

Short-term suspensions

There were 86,578 grade 9-13 short-term suspensions reported statewide in 2014-15, an increase of 2.7 percent from the 2013-14 total of 84,295.

One of nine North Carolina high school students received at least one out-of-school short-term suspension in 2014-15. Many students received only one suspension each year, but a number of students received multiple short-term suspensions.

High school students who received short-term suspensions in 2014-15 averaged 1.83 suspensions each. The average total duration of short-term suspensions for high school students who received at least one suspension was 6.44 days.

The average duration of a single short-term suspension was 3.51 days. The grade 9-13 short-term suspension rate was 1.95 suspensions per 10 students.

Ninth grade students received the largest number of short-term suspensions.

The rate of short-term suspensions for male students was 2.8 times higher than for females.

Black students received the highest rate of short-term suspensions followed by American Indians.

Short-term suspension rates increased in 2014-15 for black, Hispanic, multiracial, and white students. Rates decreased for American Indian, Asian, and Hawaiian/Pacific Islander students.

Lexington City Schools reported zero short-term suspensions in 2014-15. Other school districts reporting the lowest rates of grade 9-13 short-term suspensions were: Watauga County, Clay County, Granville County, Asheboro City, Mooresville City, Elkin City, Alexander County and Ashe County.

School districts with the highest rates of grade 9-13 short-term suspensions were: Halifax County, Anson County, Weldon City, Richmond County, Caswell County, Robeson County, Hertford County, Edgecombe County, Whiteville City and Northampton County.

School districts reporting the largest three-year percentage decreases in rates of grade 9-13 short-term suspensions were Lexington City, Roanoke Rapids City, Watauga County, Tyrrell County and Granville County.

School districts with the largest three-year percentage increases in rates of grade 9-13 short-term suspensions were Clinton City, Graham County, Caswell County, Brunswick County, and Richmond County. Of these with large percentage increases, only Richmond County and Caswell City had 2014-15 rates that were above the state average.

Long-term suspensions

The number of long-term suspensions (11 or more days) for all students declined slightly from 1,088 to 1,085. Average school days per suspension increased from 62.6 to 72.4 school days. High school students received 761 long-term suspensions, a 6.6 percent increase from 2013-14.

Expulsions

The number of expulsions increased to 42, a 13.5 percent increase from the 37 reported for 2013-14. High school students received 37 of the 42 expulsions.

Alternative schools and programs

Alternative schools and programs (ALPs) reported 13,448 student placements in 2014-15, an 8.4 percent increase from the 12,403 reported in 2013-14. There were 12,657 individual students placed in ALPs during the 2014-15 school year. Schools made 4,023 assignments of students to ALPs as disciplinary actions.

Dropouts

High schools in North Carolina reported 11,190 dropouts in 2014-15. The grade 9-13 dropout rate in 2014-15 was 2.39 percent, up from the 2.28 percent reported for 2013-14. The increase in the dropout rate was 4.8 percent.

There were increases in the dropout count in 58.3 percent (67 of 115) of the school districts. Four districts stayed the same as the previous year. There were decreases in 38.3 percent (44 of 115) of the districts.

The 11,190 dropouts recorded in grades 9-13 represented a 7.6 percent increase from the count of 10,404 recorded in 2013-14.

School districts reporting the lowest high school dropout rates were: Newton Conover City, Hyde County, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City, Union County, Macon County, Clinton City, Washington County, Graham County, Currituck County and Yadkin County.

School districts reporting the highest dropout rates were: Warren County, Person County, Lexington City, Thomasville City, Scotland County, Halifax County, Lenoir County, Franklin County, Swain County and Caswell County.

School districts with the largest three-year percentage decreases in high school dropout rates were: Newton Conover City, Washington County, Hyde County, Macon County and Yadkin County.

School districts with the largest three-year percentage increases were Pamlico County, Hertford County, Warren County, Tyrrell County and Alleghany County. Despite the large three-year increase, Tyrrell County’s rate is still below the state average.