March 3, 2011 - State Report on Crime, Dropouts and Suspensions Released

PCS Data Shows Significant Decreases in Dropouts and School Crime and Violence

“I am so very proud of the extraordinary efforts of our schools to address the many variables that impact our dropout rate,” commented PCS Superintendent Dr. Beverly Reep.  “We have worked diligently on many levels to reinforce that decreasing dropouts in PCS is a challenge that belongs to ALL of us.  While we still have work to do to meet our goals, this decrease documents significant progress. I could not be more proud of our staff and am especially proud of our students!”

Key findings of the Consolidated Report show that:

• The annual dropout rate for PCS decreased to 4.87 from 6.42 the previous year. A total of 361 students dropped out of high school in 2009-10 as compared to 482 students in 2008-09. This represents a 25.1 percent decrease in the number of students dropping out of school.

• The number of acts of crime and violence decreased from 15.33 acts per 1,000 students to 11.58 acts per 1,000 students. Total acts decreased from 103 in 2008-09 to 78 in 2009-10.

• Out-of-school suspensions increased. For short-term suspensions (10 days or fewer), the total number of suspensions went from 8,680 in 2008-09 to 9,104 in 2009-10. Long-term suspensions increased from 170 in 2008-09 to 173 in 2009-10.

• Expulsions declined to 3 from 5 the previous year.

Programs and Services in place include:

• Pitt County Schools exit surveys indicate that students dropout due to poor attendance, enrollment in a community college for a GED or Adult High School Diploma, the necessity to choose work over school, or academic problems.

• According to the Consolidated Report, these are consistent to the reasons most frequently given across the state.   

• A Dropout Prevention Task Force was formed for Pitt County Schools and helped the district launch a Dropout Prevention Campaign. More than $23,000 has been donated to the campaign to help support dropout prevention efforts in the district.  

• The Twilight Academy is an after-school program that identifies upperclassmen who are in need of additional credits in order to graduate on time. To-date, 173 credits have been issued through the program which is offered at each high school.

• Pitt County Schools received funding for the Link Crew from the NC General Assembly’s Committee on Dropout Prevention. The Link Crew is a peer mentoring group that pairs an upperclassman with each incoming freshman.

• The Greenville Police Department was awarded funding for Project Success from the North Carolina General Assembly’s Committee on Dropout Prevention. Through the program, a case manager works with high school students on probation to help ensure they stay in school and are successful. The program has issued more than 120 credits to-date with additional students finishing courses weekly.  Out of 103 students that have been involved in the program, 74 are still in school, have graduated or are continuing their education through a GED program.  

• The Greenville Police Department was also awarded funding for Project Equal from the NC Governor’s Crime Commission. Project Equal is a suspension reduction program based on the concept of restorative discipline. The program has averted 2,866 days of suspensions and preserved 17,196 hours of instruction so far this school year.

• The Summer Significance Academy began in the summer of 2007 to help transition elementary students to middle school. Nearly 250 students have been served over the past three years.