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Brentwood Press - AntiochPress_08.15.08 - Index

10A | THEPRESS.NET EDUCATION AUGUST 15, 2008
Dropping out in droves
by Dave Roberts
Staff Writer
Nearly one of every three students
who enter high school in Antioch drop
out somewhere along the way. Two of
every fi ve African-American students,
one-third of Hispanic students and onefourth
of white students fail to pick up a
diploma.
Overall, the dropout rate is 31 percent
in the Antioch Unifi ed School District
(AUSD), placing Antioch behind both
the Liberty (10 percent) and Pittsburg (29
percent) high school districts.
Those are the results of a recent study
by the California Department of Education
based on improved student tracking
data that show a much higher dropout
rate in Antioch than previously reported.
“Increasing graduation rates is critical
to closing the achievement gap and
preparing students for success in the competitive
global economy,” stated State Superintendent
of Public Instruction Jack
O’Connell in a press release. “We are now
able to use individual student-level data
to more accurately report how many students
graduate, how many drop out before
graduating and why these students
leave school.
“Educators at the state and local level
must use this powerful new information to
prevent students from dropping out in the
fi rst place, and ensure more students leave
high school with a diploma in hand.”
AUSD offi cials are looking at the
dropout data, as well as the district’s own
student data, to determine why students
are leaving and what can be done to get
them to stay, said Superintendent Deborah
Sims in a phone interview this week.
“I believe we have a lot of work to
do,” she said. “One of the things we began
last year is really looking at the dropout
rate in terms of: Are these accurate numbers,
and who’s dropping out and why,
and how do we intervene earlier to assure
that students’ needs are being met in
school and are providing all opportunities
for students to be successful?
“We are doing a couple of things. We
are looking at the data from our schools
and we are assessing what interventions are
in place. Part of our blueprint for change is
to develop a comprehensive plan.
“The week after that (dropout report)
came out, I had staff in the room for three
hours taking the data apart. Why is this 31
(percent)? Does it make sense? What’s in
place at the school sites? How are the administrators
addressing students who are
at risk of dropping out of school? What
are the contacts and the interventions if
the student is not succeeding?”
Sims said meetings are being held
with school principals to identify support
services for at-risk students.
“Is it a mentor or is it more academic
intervention, tutorial support – what is
it we need to do?” she said. “We have to
identify who those students are and provide
early intervention – that is really the
key. We have to make sure we are providing
the support services academically, socially
and emotionally to help those students
reconnect.”
Sims said that providing smaller learning
academies like Dozier-Libbey Medical
High School and the Delta Performing
Arts Academy are part of the district’s
strategy to improve students’ connection
with their school and with learning.
An improved community and spirit
has been created at Deer Valley High
School, thanks to the hands-on leadership
of co-principals Scott Bergerhouse
and Clarence Isadore, she said.
“All of the research talks about one
of the most important factors is this sense
of connectedness and personalization,”
said Sims. “Students who have the profi le
of ‘could be a dropout’ don’t drop out
because someone in that school has connected
with them and helped them get
through the system.
“I am really committed to dig deep
into what the data tells us and how we
identify those students and provide the
kinds of support services they need.”
To comment on this story, visit www.
thepress.net.
Bell
schedule
All schools in the Antioch Unifi ed
School District will begin their fi rst
day of instruction for the 2008-09
school year on Monday, Aug. 25.
The district’s two newest high schools,
Dozier-Libbey Medical High School
and Delta Arts Performing Academy,
will also open that day. Start times for
the fi rst day of school are:
Elementary Schools
8 a.m. Belshaw, Carmen Dragon,
Diablo Vista, Kimball, London,
Lone Tree, Mission, Orchard
Park, and Sutter
8:10 a.m. Marsh and Muir
8:14 a.m. Turner
8:15 a.m. Fremont and Grant
Middle Schools
8:35 a.m. Black Diamond
8:40 a.m. Antioch, Dallas Ranch
and Park
High Schools
8 a.m. Live Oak and Bidwell
8:02 a.m. Deer Valley
8:05 a.m. Antioch
8:30 a.m. Dozier-Libbey Medical
9 a.m. Delta Arts Performing
Academy
For more information, call 925-
706-4100 or visit www.antioch.k12.
ca.us.