Parent Teacher Magazine Gaston County School May/June 2015 | Page 4

GCS continues to rank as one of the safest large school districts in state
Gaston sees decrease in number of student suspensions and expulsions
A report from the State Board of Education and N.C. Department of
Public Instruction shows that Gaston County Schools continues to rank as one
of the safest large school districts in North Carolina.
Gaston County Schools’ crime and violence rate for the 2013-2014 school
year is 4.723, which is lower than the state rate of 6.79. The school crime
rate for Gaston County Schools has been significantly lower than the state
rate for the past five years.
Gaston County Schools continues to earn recognition as a safe school
district. Of the ten largest school districts in the state, Gaston County has the
second lowest crime and violence rate. When compared to neighboring school
districts, Gaston has the lowest rate.
The state report released Thursday, March 5 provides data about school
crime and violence and suspensions and expulsions for public school districts
and charter schools across the state. The full report is available online at
www.ncpublicschools.org.
The number of short-term suspensions in Gaston County Schools
decreased this past school year from 6,643 in 2012-2013 to 4,579 in 20132014. The district did not have any long-term suspensions or expulsions for
the 2013-2014 year.
Superintendent of Schools W. Jeffrey Booker stated, “Safety continues to
be a top priority for all of our schools in Gaston County, and we are pleased
to be one of the safest school districts in the Charlotte region and in the state
again this year.”
Booker continues, “Our principals, teachers, students, parents,
resource officers and all employees go beyond expectations every day to
ensure school safety. Our investment in camera surveillance equipment,
visitor management technology and other school initiatives help to keep
our campuses safe and secure. Most important is our excellent, on-going
partnership with law enforcement in Gaston County – we would not have an
outstanding school safety record without the support and commitment from
our local law enforcement officers.”
The following two charts provide comparison information about the
Gaston County Schools Acts of Crime and Suspensions and Expulsions for
the past five school years. Chart I shows the school crime rates and Chart II
provides the number of student suspensions and expulsions for t