Five-year dropout rate below average
Although there was concern over this year's dropout rate in Marion High School, new figures for previous five years reveal that all schools districts in Marion County fall below the state average for dropouts.
Figures for last year weren't included in the review, which comes from the Kansas Department of Education. Statistics are from 1996-97 through 2000-2001.
The state averaged a 2.5 percent dropout rate in those five years.
The comparison was assembled by the Eighth Judicial District. Staff members wanted to see whether local efforts to reduce juvenile delinquency was having an effect, Chief Judge Michael Powers said.
The overall trend of dropouts in the district is declining, from 149 in 1997 to 84 in 2001.
Nearly all the schools had at least one year where rates were higher than others. Marion High School, for example, will see its average rise when 2001-2002 figures are included, because the dropout rate was far higher than normal this past year. However, the overall trend remains low.
Results for schools appear below. The include average for the five years, percentage for high and low years, and figures for the most recent year, 2000-01.
100-300 enrollment
Herington — 2.62 percent (high of nine out of 213 in 1998, 4.2 percent, to a low of one out of 197 in 1999, 0.5 percent). 2001: 3.2 percent (six of 187).
Peabody-Burns — 2.38 percent (high of nine out of 144 in 1997, 6.3 percent, to low of one out 229 in 2001, 0.4 percent). 2001: same as lowest.
Hillsboro — 2.06 percent (high of seven of 240 in 2000, 2.9 percent, to low of three of 252 in 1999, 1.2 percent). 2001: 2.1 percent (five of 240).
Marion — 1.7 percent (high of six out of 219 in 1997, 2.7 percent, to a low of one out of 220 in 1998, 0.5 percent). 2001: 2.0 percent (five of 247).
Solomon — 1.14 percent (high of three out of 204 in 1998, 1.5 percent, to a low of one out of 213 in 2001, 0.5 percent). 2001: same as lowest.
Centre — 0.78 percent (high of two out of 156 in 1998, 1.3 percent, to a low of one out of 159, both 1997 and 1999, 0.6 percent). 2001: 0.7 percent (one of 144).
Goessel — 0.6 percent (high of two out of 148 in 2001, 1.4 percent, to a low of zero out of 170 in 1999 and 2000). 2001: same as high.
300-500 enrollment
Abilene — 2.64 percent (high of 22 out of 479 in 1998, 4.6 percent, to a low of eight out of 473 in 2001, 1.7 percent). 2001: same as low.
Chapman — 2.58 percent (17 out of 461 in 1997, 3.7 percent, to low of seven of 416 in 2001, 1.7 percent). 2001: same as low.
Council Grove — 2.5 percent (high of 14 of 343 in 1997, 4.1 percent, to a low of four of 350 in 1999, 1.1 percent). 2001: 2.3 percent (eight of 351).
Among the 14 schools in the judicial district, those with a dropout rate tied or higher than the state were Council Grove, Chapman, Herington, Abilene, and Junction City.
Three schools had a 7-12 grade enrollment of less than 100. All three had low dropout rates.
St. Xavier, a Catholic high school in Junction City, reported no dropouts the past five years, with enrollments ranging from 60 to 97. Hope reported one dropout in the past five years. White City reported two dropouts.
The only school in the district with more than 1,000 students is Junction City. Its high dropout rate was 73 out of 1,393 students in 1997, about 5.2 percent. The low was in 2000, when 31 of 1,382 students dropped out. Its figures for 2001 were 2.5 percent, or 35 of 1,381.
