State Releases New Suspension and Expulsion Data for San Rafael, Terra Linda High Schools

The California Department of Education recently released numbers showing school administrators suspended one out of 20 students and expelled one 1,000 students statewide during the 2011-12 school year.

Statewide data revealed that black students and Hispanic students are more likely to be suspended than white or Asian students. Data for San Rafael City Schools bore out that trend for Hispanic students, who accounted for eight of the 12 expulsions at San Rafael and Terra Linda high schools in 2011-2012. Hispanic students, who make up 48 percent of the total enrollment of 2,066 students at the two schools, accounted for 161 of the 259 suspensions handed out.

White students made up the bulk of the rest of the suspensions at more than 70, with black students next at more than 15.

The CDE also broke down suspensions and expulsions by offense, with 178 of the suspensions tied to a "disruption or defiance"-related incident, and another 85 related to illicit drugs. There were 353 total offenses related to suspensions and expulsions, though that number was far higher than the number of students suspended or expelled, as many students were punished for multiple offenses.

Here’s the CDE on the statewide disparity among ethnicities:

African-American students are 6.5 percent of total enrollment, but make up 19 percent of suspensions. White students are 26 percent of total enrollment, but represent 20 percent of suspensions. Hispanic students are 52 percent of total enrollment, and 54 percent of suspensions.

The California Department of Education is working on several initiatives to address these differences in rates by identifying positive alternatives to suspension and expulsion, as well as developing effective strategies to improve attendance as part of an overarching initiative to keep students in school. The Department has partnered with several organizations to work on these initiatives, including The California Endowment, the California Blue Ribbon Commission on Children in Foster Care, the Region IX Equity Assistance Center at WestEd, and Attendance Works.

You can find a brief explanation of the methodology behind the state's suspension and expulsion data here. In the graphic above, note that the number of offenses is larger than the number of suspensions and expulsions, as several students were suspended multiple times.

Check out what else is on San Rafael Patch:

• Comparing Rent in San Rafael
• San Rafael Mother’s Fight Against Cancer Intensifies
• Blotter: Prostitute Caught in the Act and a Stolen Car With a Key Stuck in the Ignition
• Plane Slides Off Runway at San Rafael Airport
• Deck Construction Sparks San Rafael Residential Fire
• Firefighters Snuff out Vegetation Fire on San Rafael Hill
• Five Men Nabbed in San Rafael Prostitution Sting
• Do You Feel Safe in Downtown San Rafael?

We're almost there! Help us reach 1,000 likes on Facebook!