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BRIEFING #1
TALKING POINTS JANUARY 2008
THE STUDY
An analysis of student enrollment and UNDERSTANDING THE HIGH SCHOOL
dis-engagement between 2003-2006 at
three Duval County high schools: DROPOUT CRISIS IN DUVAL COUNTY SCHOOLS
Englewood High School, Forrest High Duval County loses far too many of its public high school
School and Terry Parker High School. students before they ever graduate. Hundreds of students who
enter the 9th grade are not in school a year later; hundreds more
leave school in succeeding years.
FINDINGS Some transfer to the Adult High School at Florida Community
College at Jacksonville. But most just stop attending school,
Class sizes shrink dramatically leaving themselves unprepared for the future and unlikely to
between 9th and 12th grade, with the participate in a growing economy.
greatest loss of students occurring Keeping students in high school is critical: Students cannot
between 9th and 10th grade. achieve academically unless they are in school. Students cannot
• AtForrest High, the Class of 2007 started graduate unless they are in school. Students cannot prepare for
out in 9th grade with 680 members. In 10th the future unless they are in school.
grade there were 409 members. By the start
of the senior year, there were 285 members.
INTRODUCTION
Male students tend to drop out more In Duval County, only 64.3% To begin, the Foundation, with
frequently than female students, and male of public high school students the help of Duval County Public
students drop out in lower grades than graduate on time.1 What happens Schools, identified three high
do female students. to the others? How many with- schools for in-depth assessment:
draw or drop out? Why do they Englewood High School, Forrest
• AtTerry Parker High, 65% of 9th grade leave and how do they leave? High School and Terry Parker High
dropouts were male, and 82% of 11th
For The Community Foundation School. The schools are racially
grade dropouts were female.
in Jacksonville, these are important mixed, in middle- or working-
questions. Its 10-year initiative, class neighborhoods and have
African American students do not Quality Education for All, supports troubling dropout trends.
drop out at a higher rate than white work that will improve the Through data analysis, focus
or Hispanic students. graduation and dropout rates for groups and interviews with teachers,
Duval County public schools. administrators and community
• AtForrest High, 33% of the student body is Understanding the complexities partners, researchers developed a
white, but 39% of the dropouts are white; of these issues is the first step clearer picture of what happens to
8% of the students are Hispanic, but 13%
toward changing the trends. students after they enter high school.
of the dropouts are Hispanic; 51% of the
students are African American, but 43% of
the dropouts are African American.