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Why San Luis Obispo County students are getting suspended and expelled

Here’s a breakdown of the most common offenses at San Luis Obispo County’s four largest school districts in the 2008-09 school year.

Lucia Mar Unified School District

Truancy-expulsions-suspensions: Of the district’s 10,772 students last year, 3,126 (29 percent) were considered truant. That number is down from 30 percent in 2004-05. In the past five years 341 students were expelled, and 2,517 students were suspended for violence or drugs.

The top three offenses last year at:

  • Arroyo Grande High: 100 suspensions were for disrupting school activities or exhibiting willful defiance; 55 for possessing a controlled substance including alcohol; 51 for physically injuring another person. Eighteen of the 44 expulsions were for possessing or selling drugs on campus.
  • Nipomo High: 128 suspensions were for disrupting school activities or exhibiting willful defiance; 29 for physically injuring another person; 23 for possessing a controlled substance including alcohol. Six of the 18 expulsions were for possessing or selling drugs; one was for hate violence.
  • Mesa Middle: 35 suspensions were for disrupting school activities or exhibiting willful defiance; 29 for physically injuring another person; 12 for sexual harassment. Three of the 14 expulsions were for possessing or selling drugs.
  • Judkins Middle: 17 suspensions were for physically injuring another person; 16 for disrupting school activities or exhibiting willful defiance; eight for stealing school property. Two of the five expulsions were for possessing or selling drugs.
  • Paulding Middle: 23 suspensions were for physically injuring another person; 14 for disrupting school activities or exhibiting willful defiance; five for stealing school property. Three students were expelled for a range of offenses including possessing a knife.

    • San Luis Coastal

    Truancy-expulsions-suspensions: Of the district’s 6,989 students last year, 2,874 (41 percent) were considered truant. That number is up from 32 percent in 2004-05. School officials say the increase may be attributed to more efficient data collection. In the past five years 51 students were expelled, and 1,406 students were suspended for violence or drugs.

    The top three offenses last year at:

    • Morro Bay High: 33 suspensions were for disrupting school activities or exhibiting willful defiance; 21 for physically injuring another person; 13 for possessing a controlled substance including alcohol. Three of the four expulsions were for possessing or selling drugs on campus.
  • San Luis Obispo High: 36 suspensions were for disrupting school activities or exhibiting willful defiance; 21 for possessing a controlled substance; 13 for stealing school property. Four of the six expulsions were for selling drugs.
  • Laguna Middle: 22 suspensions were for injuring another person; 18 for the use of force or violence and nine for disrupting school activities or exhibiting willful defiance. One student was expelled for the use of force.
  • Los Osos Middle: 17 suspensions were for disrupting school activities; 11 for physically injuring another person; 10 for damaging school property. No expulsions.

    • Paso Robles Unified School District

    Truancy-expulsions-suspensions: Of the district’s 6,875 students last year, 28 percent, or 1,930 were considered truant. That number is up from 23 percent in 2004-05. In the past five years 195 students were expelled, and 2,431 students were suspended for violence or drugs.

    The top three offenses last year at:

    • Paso Robles High: 195 suspensions were for disrupting school activities or exhibiting willful defiance; 74 for physically injuring another person; 43 for possessing a controlled substance. Ten of the 34 expulsions were for disrupting school activities or exhibiting willful defiance.
  • Daniel Lewis Middle: 42 suspensions were for disrupting school activities or exhibiting willful defiance; 34 for physically injuring another person; 14 for use of force or violence. Five students were expelled for a range of offenses including committing an obscene act or engaging in habitual profanity or vulgarity.
  • George Flamson Middle School: 110 suspensions were for disrupting school activities or exhibiting willful defiance; 48 for physically injuring another person; 35 for harassment, threats or intimidation. Four of the 14 expulsions were for physical injury to another person.

    • Atascadero Unified School District

    Truancy-expulsions-suspensions: Of the district’s 4,945 students last year, 21 percent, or 1,059 were considered truant. That number is down from 23 percent in 2004-05. In the past five years 28 students were expelled, and 1,098 students were suspended for violence or drugs.

    The top three offenses last year at:

    • Atascadero High: 95 suspensions were for disrupting school activities or exhibiting willful defiance; 31 for physically injuring another person; 25 for possessing a controlled substance. Two of the three expulsions were for drug-related offenses.
  • Atascadero Junior High: 66 suspensions were for disrupting school activities or exhibiting willful defiance; 24 for physically injuring another person; seven for stealing school property. Half of the four expulsions were for drug-related offenses.

    • Source: California Department of Education

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