Lexington 2 Dropout Rates Plummet

The number of high school dropouts in Lexington 2 dropped from 115 to 50 from the 10-11 and 11-12 school years, according to a new report out. 

Lexington 1 dropped from 95 to 81 dropouts, Lexington 3 from 15 to 13 and Lexington 4 and 5 stayed the same. 

A release from Lexington 5 follows: 

District Five’s Dropout Rate Remains Among The Lowest In South Carolina

IRMO – Lexington-Richland School District Five’s dropout rate remains one of the lowest in the state, according to a new report from the South Carolina Department of Education.

The new data shows that 66 students in District Five left high school during the federal fiscal year 2011- 2012, that’s a dropout rate of 1.3 percent for the district compared to the state average of 2.5 percent. District Five had the twelfth lowest dropout rate among South Carolina’s 81 school districts.

District Five Superintendent Dr. Stephen Hefner said, “Reducing dropout rates is critical to the continued success of our district and community. While our dropout rate remains low, we believe that 66 students leaving our schools is 66 too many. Our district will continue to strive to create a school system that is engaging and relevant for all students – a system where every student wants to stay in school and graduate.”

District Five’s dropout rate has not increased in several years, remaining at 1.3 for the past two fiscal years reported and steadily declining between 2008 and 2011. Statewide annual dropout rates also have declined. The new report shows that 668 fewer students in South Carolina dropped out of school during the 2011-2012 year, compared to the previous year.

The state Department of Education has collected and analyzed data on school dropouts since 1971. The dropout rate formula includes students who leave school for reasons other than death before graduation or completion of a program studies and do not transfer to another school or institution. Students excluded from the rate include those obtaining their GED, joining the military and attending trades schools. Students with long-term illnesses that prevent them from attending school and special education students who receive certificates of completion are not considered dropouts, according to the state’s formula.