Schools in DeKalb County are struggling to graduate students while dealing with a high number of discipline incidents and poverty rates.
According to data from the Atlanta Regional Commission, schools in DeKalb County averaged the second-lowest graduation rate in the metro Atlanta area, graduating only 70.9 percent of its high school seniors in 2015. Only Clayton County schools graduated fewer students, coming in at 66.4 percent. Atlanta Public Schools averaged the third-lowest graduation rate, barely passing DeKalb at 71.5 percent.
The DeKalb County School District also faced the third-highest childhood poverty rate in metro Atlanta at 31.8 percent in 2014. The second highest was Clayton County at 34 percent, and Atlanta Public Schools had the highest child poverty rate at 36.4 percent.
Additionally, data from the Governor's Office of Student Achievement shows that there was an average of 47 discipline incidents per 100 students across schools in DeKalb County during the 2013-2014 school year. That number was even higher — 50 discipline incidents on average — the previous school year.
Dr. Katherine Spencer, a child health psychologist with the Behavioral Institute of Atlanta, confirms that there is a link between childhood poverty and academic problems later in life, including inattention and lack of interest in school.
“These kids are faced with maybe not even eating breakfast before they go to school,” Spencer said about children from poverty-stricken households. “They are subjected to violence and drugs, and often parents have to work multiple jobs to support their families.”
This, she says, has a negative effect on their ability to learn and years later, to graduate. Spencer also thinks there is a link to a higher rate of discipline issues, but she believes more research needs to be done in that area to confirm the conclusion.
“Involvement of parents, increasing funding and resources, and building of a learning community helps improve the quality of schools in low [income] neighborhoods,” Spencer said. “Community based organizations work toward this.”
Officials from the DeKalb County School District are aware of this data and also see the correlation. As part of the solution, Region 5 Superintendent Dr. Ralph Simpson is spearheading the district’s restorative practices approach.
“It actually places consequences and punishment as a last resort,” he said. “Historically, we’ve placed consequences at the beginning.”
He called the program a paradigm shift in disciplinary action, a way of focusing on why the student acted out instead of just punishing them for doing so. Another system being used is Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports.
“PBIS is a framework, not a program,” said Dr. Keisha Towns, the head of the district’s Department of Student Relations. “We provide positive responses and support.”
According to the DeKalb County School District's website, PBIS combines continuous teaching with reinforcement of positive student behavior "to reduce unnecessary discipline and promote a climate of greater productivity, safety and learning." This system began with two schools in 2015 and will expand to 10 schools in the fall.
In a statement to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, DeKalb superintendent Dr. R. Stephen Green pointed to their commitment to helping students achieve their goals.
“In partnership with parents and teachers, we want our students to be successful in a safe, orderly learning environment,” he said. “The priority and the importance of our focus and our effort in this area cannot be overstated.”
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