Guilford County Schools 2006-07 Dropout Rate Below State Average

Thursday, February 7, 2008

The North Carolina State Department of Public Instruction released its 2006-07 Annual Dropout Report today. In it, Guilford County Schools’ (GCS) dropout rate of 2.99 percent is not only significantly below the state average of 5.24 percent, but it is also the lowest among the largest districts in the state. Additionally, it is believed that GCS’ dropout rate ranks among the lowest of the nation’s 50 largest districts.

The following chart compares the GCS dropout rate to other large districts in the state, as well as the rates of surrounding counties:

“Decreasing GCS’ annual dropout rate and increasing the four-year graduation rate were two goals given to me by the school board in 2000,” said Superintendent Terry Grier. “Our board understands that students who drop out of school have little chance for a bright future. We must all stand committed to not being satisfied until no student drops out of a school in GCS and all students graduate from high school within four years.”

Data analysis found that 32 percent of all students dropout during the ninth-grade year, 25 percent dropout in the 10th grade and 22 percent dropout in the 11th grade. Dropout rates increase in frequency as students reach 16 years of age, and 78 percent of dropout events occur between the ages of 16 and 18.

GCS’ high school dropout rate has almost been cut in half since the 1999-2000 year, when it was 5.97 percent. The district is a state and national leader in the Middle College High School movement, locating six middle college high schools for disconnected students on local college and university campuses. The schools form the foundation of “Zero Guilford,” the district’s national award-winning dropout prevention and recovery program.