Dropout rate continues to decline in CMS
State report also shows decreases in crime and suspensions
The dropout rate in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools declined for the fifth consecutive
year, according to the 2013-2014 Consolidated Data Report presented today to the State
Board of Education. Last school year, 2.31 percent of CMS high school students dropped
out of school which represents a 23.5 percent decrease from the 2012-2013 dropout rate
of 3.02. The state-wide dropout rate declined 6.9 percent, from 2.45 percent in 20122013 to 2.28 percent in 2013-2014. The report also indicates decreases in the rate of
suspensions and reportable acts of violence in CMS.
“The continued decline in our dropout rate is a reflection of the intentional efforts of
our educators, students, families and community partners to keep students in school and
on track to graduate,” said Ann Clark, superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
“We want every CMS student to graduate with a relevant diploma and the critical skills
needed for college and career success. We will continue to make this a primary district
focus.”
Short- and long-term suspensions in CMS also declined, according to the report.
Short-term suspensions (10 days or fewer) declined 11,701 or 32.7 percent - from 35,822
in 2012-2013 to 24,121 in 2013-2014. Short-term suspensions for all North Carolina
public schools decreased 20.0 percent from 247,919 in 2012-2013 to 198,254 in 201314. Long-term suspensions (11 days or more) in CMS decreased 88.7 percent, from 97 in
2012-2013 to 11 in 2013-2014. Long-term suspensions statewide decreased 23.5 percent
from 1,423 in 2012-13 to 1,088 in 2013-2014.
Additionally, the rate and number of reportable acts of crime and violence for grades
nine through 13 decreased from 637 or 16.5 acts per 1,000 students in 2012-2013 to 547
or 13.9 acts per 1,000 students in 2013-14 for CMS. The rate and number of reportable
acts of crime and violence for high school students statewide also decreased from 5,759
or 13.1 acts per 1,000 students in 2012-2013 to 5,475 or 12.4 acts per 1,000 students in
2013-2014.
“We have dedicated people and programs in place to help schools implement early
intervention strategies that reduce the need for suspensions,” said Clark. “These resources
focus on student behavioral challenges while keeping students in school so any loss of
instructional time is minimized.”
Seats available for second options lottery
Application period open until June 5
More than 21,000
spaces have been filled
through this year’s school
options lottery but there
are schools with vacant
seats remaining. The
second lottery application
period is open and will run
through 10 p.m. Friday,
June 5. Choices include
magnet, career and
technical education (CTE) and other school options programs.
Any family of a current or future-enrolled CMS student is
eligible to participate. The second lottery is primarily an
opportunity to fill magnet seats left vacant in the first lottery
and an opportunity for families who were not eligible or did
not participate in the first lottery. See the list of schools with
availability.
Letters on how to apply for the second lottery will be
mailed in March to families of students who were newly
enrolled for the current school year or future-enrolled in CMS
after Jan. 12. If a family participated in the first lottery and
chooses to participate in the second lottery, then the second
lottery results wil