Dropout Prevention

Local Drop Out Issues

Communities In Schools of Cape Fear (CISCF) is dedicated to reducing the dropout rate in New Hanover and Pender Counties. Currently, only 63.6% of students who start out in 9th grade in New Hanover County Schools graduate. In one high school, only 55.2% graduate. In Pender County, the overall four year graduation rate is 64.3%.

One New Hanover County High School had a 4 year cohort graduation rate in 2008 of 55.2%, which is the lowest in the county.  (2008 NHCS 63.6%) Concerning numbers are reflected in the subgroup statistics.  The 4 year cohort graduation rate for economically disadvantaged students was only 43.8%; for African American students, 48%; for multiracial; 40.9%; for Hispanic students, 39.4%, for Limited English Proficient students, 36.7%; and for males 50%.

Why Do Students Drop Out?
Research indicates that future dropouts may be identified as early as sixth grade based on these criteria and that more than half of the sixth graders who have less than 80% attendance rate, fail reading or math, and have documented behavior problems will not complete high school.  Eighth graders who have these identifiers have a 75% chance of dropping out. (Neild & Balfanz, 2006)

The key indicators that researchers have identified as indicative of which student  is most likely to drop out are:
• Poor grades in core subjects
• Low attendance
• Failure to be promoted to the next grade, and
• Disengagement in the classroom, including behavioral problems (Balfanz & Herzog, 2005)

CIS of Cape Fear seeks to provide support and resources to all students who are at risk of dropping out of school.

CISCF targets students for early intervention who:

• Have been retained in previous grades.
• Attend school less than 80% in the previous year or semester.
• Have failed either reading or math in the previous year or semester.
• Have more than 5 discipline referrals in the previous year or semester.
• Have been suspended in the previous year or semester.
• Have a failing grade in behavior by one or more teacher in the previous year or semester.

• • Graduation Coaches
  • Graduation Coaches reach out to students who are chronically absent, have numerous office referrals for discipline issues, have been suspended, and students who are failing core subjects.
  • Graduation Coaches

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