Drop in dropout rate is good news

Community gains as more students stay in school

Dr. Ron Turbyfill, board chair of Communities in Schools of Rowan County, comments on the improvement in the dropout rate:

Many facts and figures are reported daily by the press, but few are more important than those recently released by the Rowan-Salisbury School System. Dropout rates are a clear indicator of the health of our schools and a long-term indicator of the health of the community.

High school dropouts, more than ever, are at the base of any community’s unemployment picture. Young people trying to compete for entry-level jobs find that those positions are scarce and offer little or no job security. Wages are usually insufficient to raise a family and benefits typically not available.

Keeping young people in school leads them to higher paying job opportunities and opens the door to advanced education, training and skills. Employers see high school grads as a “better bet,” being more likely to be dependable, conscientious and able to learn new skills.

Our school system deserves praise for stemming the tide of dropouts at all levels of PK-12 education. Elementary school teachers know that children who attend school regularly (a parental responsibility) are much more likely to be successful in school than those who are allowed by parents to stay home frequently. Middle school teachers know that the responsibility for attendance and classroom performance shifts more to the child, but support and reinforcement by a parent is critical. Sadly, by high school, many students have already made the decision to part with school as soon as possible. However, those who have developed positive attitudes about school and healthy lifestyles and attitudes towards themselves will succeed and graduate.

It’s really a PK-12 issue. Thanks to Dr. Grissom, her staff and RSS educators for tackling the problem on multiple fronts. I appreciate Dr. Grissom’s recognition of Communities in Schools of Rowan in this effort. Site coordinators of Community in Schools (CIS) of Rowan have as their sole purpose success in school and a high school diploma for every child. CIS (a United Way agency) serves four elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools to support young people and their families. CIS serves as a bridge to bring parents and teachers together. That partnership, between families and schools is the most important element of all!