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County's dropout rate improves Phoenix and South Medford post high rankings, although South's is better than it was the year before By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Jackson County's dropout rate improved in 2000-2001, but Phoenix and South Medford high schools posted some of the highest rates in the state. In a report released this week by the Oregon Department of Education, Phoenix, with a dropout percentage of 10.40, ranks third highest among all state high schools. South Medford is seventh at 9.35, but it still managed to do significantly better than the previous year's percentage of 10.57. The state dropout rate fell a percentage point to 5.25 in 2000-2001, showing improvements in all racial and ethnic groups and representing the highest one-year decline in 10 years. By comparison, Jackson County posted a 6.70 percent dropout rate in 2000-2001, a significant drop from the previous year's 7.22 percent. Students leave school for various reasons, including not having enough credits to graduate, lack of parental support, dysfunctional home life, working more than 15 hours a week and substance abuse. North Medford has joined South in reducing dropout rates this year, posting 7.05 percent compared to 8.33 the year before. Eagle Point had the most significant improvement in the county, falling from 8.90 to 5.08. Phoenix had the highest rate in the county, jumping to 10.40 from 9.18. Phoenix Principal Bruce Rhodes said, "We're certainly concerned about it and we are certainly looking for ways to improve it." Rhodes said that while it is difficult to assess all the reasons for the high dropout rate, the large number of families moving in and out of the area could be one factor. Students often leave, he said, giving no explanation why or where they are going. Also, many students start falling behind early, finally giving up because they feel there is no possibility of catching up, he said. The 800-student school has a significant Hispanic population, which can be more transient, but Rhodes said this only plays a minor factor in the dropout rate. Of the 84 students dropping out, 68 were white and six were Hispanic, according to ODE statistics. The remainder were from other ethnic groups. As a comparison, at South Medford High, which had 175 dropouts, 124 were white and 37 were Hispanic. Of the 622 students dropping out of county schools altogether, 500 were white and 80 were Hispanic. To combat the high dropout rate, Phoenix recently began conducting freshmen orientations and has added a focus class for sophomores to show the relevance of education to a career. "As the kids move through the system, we try to show them where they're headed," said Rhodes. "Job experience can be a part of their education." But the situation admittedly has been difficult for the school. "It's real frustrating because it's not like we don't make efforts to include them (those who dropout)," said Rhodes. South Medford Principal Cynda Rickert is also frustrated about the 9.35 percent dropout rate, even though it's an improvement over last year. "I would like to think we are all working very hard to connect with the kids to keep them here," she said. Because the reasons why students are leaving remain a mystery, Rickert said she can only hope that some new programs are making an impact. The school initiated a strict attendance tracking system last year that cut down on the number of students who skipped class by 43 percent. A freshman program that divides students into teams for better monitoring and support probably also has helped, she said. Rickert would welcome an analysis to determine how many who leave her school have really dropped out or are enrolled in another campus somewhere else in the state or country. But tracking them down would prove expensive and time-consuming, she said. North Medford Principal Doug McKenzie attributed part of the more than 1 percent reduction in the dropout rate to a credit retrieval program and a Connections program that helps freshmen adjust to high school. "We are trying to make a climate here that supports kids so they remain here," he said. North Medford also has made a greater effort to reach out to parents of English-as-a-second-language students to cut down on the Hispanic dropout rate, which statewide is 11.3 percent, down from 13.3 percent. The school will also strive to find out, if possible, what happened to students who no longer come to campus, he said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.