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By SHARON KILPATRICK
Rappahannock New* Staff Writer
Virginia is making an effort to reduce school dropouts. In 1988-89 the statewide dropout rate was 4.8 percent. In 1989-90 the rate was 4 percent.
In Rappahannock County at the same time the rate was reduced from 4.1 percent to 2.5 percent. In actual numbers this means that 18 out of 444 students in seventh through twelfth grade dropped out in 1988-1989 and only 11 out of 436 did last year.
For the past two years the state has spent $15.9 million on dropout prevention grants to local school systems. Another $10.4 million has been approved for the next school year.
Rappahannock received a $14,700 dropout grant this school year and is budgeting $8,800 for the coming year. In addition, the school system is applying for a grant from the federal government for the coming year.
For the past, two years Susan Fox has been employed part time as the dropout coordinator. Mrs. Fox said that last year her efforts were concentrated on providing study groups for seniors experiencing troubles with certain required courses, chiefly government and consumer mathematics.
She said this year she is trying to emphasize prevention by working with students in eighth and ninth grades. However, the after-school study groups continue, and students are particularly interested in taking advantage of the program the day before tests in government, Mrs. Fox said.
For the younger students, and actually for any high school student with parent permission, Mrs. Fox and guidance counsellor Joyce GoodEwing have started an “incentive program.”
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