In 1997, nine of every 1,000 children in Durham were removed from their homes as a result of abuse or neglect and placed in foster care. Statewide, only six of 1,000 kids were removed from their homes. Half of those were against children between the age of infant to 6 years old. Dropping out of school, and its associated crippling economic effects on young people, was also listed as a major problem affecting the lives of children. The report found that in Durham Public Schools, nearly one of every two black males who enters high school will drop out before getting a diploma.
Black females drop out at a rate of one in three.
White children drop out at lesser rates. Overall, the high school dropout rate in Durham is about 27 percent higher than the state average, an unacceptable level, according to the report. The school system is aware of its dropout problem, but is not taking the problem sitting down. So you will be seeing things go on after school, during the school day and in the summer to make that happen. Teachers are getting training in how to identify a potential dropout and how to intervene before the student just stops coming to school.