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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend October 5, 2006 More kids stay in school Eagle Point official says dropout numbers are 'old information' By Paris Achen Mail Tribune Dropout rates declined in all but three Jackson County high schools in 2004-05 following a statewide pattern, according to a long-awaited state report released Wednesday. The percentage of dropouts decreased at Ashland High; Crater High; South Medford High; Medford Opportunity, an alternative night school; Phoenix High; Armadillo Technical Institute, an alternative school in Phoenix; Prospect School; and Rogue River High. Eagle Point and North Medford high schools had slight increases in 2004-05 dropout rates, while Butte Falls High School went from no dropouts to a dropout rate of 6 percent. In the past 10 years the state dropout rate has steadily declined, from 7.4 percent in 1994-95 to 4.2 percent in 2004-05 due in part to more accurate data collection. Collection systems now in place are able to track students from place to place to help avoid duplication, state education officials said. Advertisement School officials emphasized the report compiled by the state is outdated and does not reflect last year's dropouts nor any progress made. Officials at Eagle Point High, which had the county's highest dropout rate at 7.8 percent in 2004-05 excepting the Medford and Phoenix alternative schools open at the time, said the percentage of dropouts has already declined to 4.2 percent partly due to the premiere last year of Eagle Point's own alternative school, Connections. Connections has an enrollment of 62 pupils this year. The report is "old information," said Mari Brabbin, Eagle Point principal. "We don't get to celebrate last year's accomplishments until next year." School officials are trying to foster more personal connections between students and staff as well as offer more alternative programs to reign in the dropout rate. The Eagle Point School District has also invested the most heavily in a new countywide attendance initiative that involves attendance officer visits to the homes of truant students, tailored education plans to make up missed school work and citations as a last resort. The state dropout report, normally released in March, was delayed by changes in data collection. School districts were for the first time required to submit a list of dropouts with student identification numbers in an effort to achieve more accuracy, state education officials said. As in past years, the majority — about 56 percent — of dropouts in the state were male. Hispanic, African-American and economically disadvantaged pupils remain most at risk of dropping out. Schools reported the most frequent reasons for dropping out included falling behind in credits, lack of parental support for education and working more than 15 hours per week, though in most cases, schools indicated the reason for the dropout was unknown. Oregon ranked 15th in the United States in 2001-02 in the highest dropout rate, according to the most recent figures from the National Center for Education Statistics. In Jackson County, all but five high schools were below the state dropout rate of 4.2 percent. Butte Falls and Prospect, both with tiny student populations; Eagle Point, Medford Opportunity and Armadillo Technical Institute exceeded the state average in the percentage of dropouts. High schools in districts such as Medford with alternative schools had slimmer dropout rates. For example, when combining the dropouts from North, South and Medford Opportunity high schools, the overall high school dropout rate for the Medford district is 7.5 percent. Doug Jantzi, secondary education director in the Medford district, said he expects high school reform toward small learning communities will help shrink the dropout rate. "Making sure every student is known by one or two adults who are aware when the student is struggling or attitude toward school is changing allows us to do interventions before a student drops out or is in a futile position," Jantzi said. Phoenix and Rogue River high schools had the lowest dropout rate and some of the most dramatic improvement between 2003-04 and 2004-05. Dave Orr, principal of Rogue River High, attributed the high dropout rate of 8.3 percent in 2003-04 primarily to a fluke in which a large number of out-of-state and other teenagers new to the district enrolled and dropped out within the first two months of school. Jani Hale, Phoenix High principal, said visits by Phoenix police and school staff to the homes of truant students and better tracking of pupils helped lower the school's rate from 5.5 percent to 1.2 percent. "We went out to find out what happens to those students," Hale said. Reach reporter Paris Achen by calling 541-776-4459 or e-mailing [email protected] . Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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