I had a talk recently with Santa Ana School Board member John Palacio about the dropout problem in our town. Take a look at these awful numbers, from the O.C. Register:
- No. 35: Century High in Santa Ana, 251 dropouts (9.6 percent)
- No. 106: Valley High in Santa Ana, 132 dropouts (4.3 percent)
- No. 213: Saddleback High in Santa Ana, 81 dropouts (3 percent)
Those schools are amongst the O.C. leaders – in dropout rates. And the news is far worse. According to Palacio, as many as HALF our students drop out. If you compare the number of kids who start out in kindergarten to the senior high school classes, half the kids are long gone. Some may have moved, but who really knows? The state does not track dropouts or transfers.
The City of Santa Ana spends a ton of money on its police department. Could it be that the dropout problem is part of this? Why aren’t our community leaders up in arms about this?
Consider that SAUSD Trustee Rob Richardson has NO kids. Trustees Rosie Avila and Audrey Yamagata-Noji sent their kids out of district, from what I hear. So really, they could care less if the kids in our community are going to Hell in a hand basket.
With this many kids dropping out, you really have to wonder what sort of future they have. The market for manual labor is going down every year as we continue to allow jobs to go overseas. And the problem is magnified when you include the kids who do not graduate but are instead handed worthless certificates because they could not pass their high school exit exams.
We really need to take back our school board this year. Avila, Richardson and the inept Jose Hernandez are all up for reelection. We simply cannot give these people a hall pass. They must go. That is particularly true for Avila and Richardson. They have been partners in low expectations for far too long. How Pulido can stomach backing her every year is beyond me.
Who will step up? I can think of three great candidates right now in Irene Ibarra, Lynnette Verino and Deborah Vasquez. I hope they will think about it.
No matter what, we cannot ignore the dropout issue in our city anymore. Something must be done – and soon.
The sad thing is that rather than face these sad truths about the schools in Santa Ana they would rather tell you all about the handful of affirmative action admissions into Ivy league schools (out of 55,000 students don’t be surprised if a couple meet a quota at a decent college) or how the students have “improved” ( when your test scores are in the craper you talk about improvement) from 4 grades below grade level work to just two levels below grade level or some other B.S. Why any self respecting parent with the means to move or pay for private school would put their kids through this is beyond me.
Although SAHS doesn’t appear on the list, when I was there a few years ago the actual dropout rate was 66%. Figure it out – 900 in the freshman class, 300 in the graduating class. This was consistent year after year. Never did the district’s figures reflect a dropout rate that high. How come? Because they play with the numbers – such as, this many moved to Mexico, this many went into the adult ed program, blash, blah, blah, etc. If the actual dropout figures were accurately reported, all SAUSD high schools would show a dropout rate far avbove 50%.
maybe they moved out of the District or, Maybe just Maybe, they had to work to help feed their Family. Let us not make Mountains out of Mole Hills until you have facts. Don’t feed into the Register’s hate for Santa Ana.
If you take the CHS enrollment figures for 2006-7 they show: 9th Grade – 863, 10th – 668 and 11th – 521 for a total of 2052. That’s a 60% drop (or 30%/year) from 9th to 11th grade – move outs should be about the same as move ins – especially with the declining district enrollment. I’d like to see how they explain those numbers down to a 10% drop rate.
I teach in a Santa Ana high school on that list. On any given day, 30 to 40 of the 130 students I teach are absent. Most of these have parents who send notes in how their babies were sick. Are we surprised that the drop out rate is this high? Until parents step up and take responsibility for THEIR children, nothing teachers, school administration, board members, or politicians do will amount to anything. Let’s stop making excuses for the parents and start holding their feet to the fire.
School is not for everyone (at least not high school.) We should be teaching most Santa Ana kids a trade. There is nothing wrong with working in a factory or repairing equipment or fixing pipes. My family has been doing it for generations and we make a nice living. The idea that you can take children who are not cut out for school and send them all to college is absurd.
I learned to draw and read blue prints at Willard. I learned to weld at SAHS. I learned auto mechanics at SAHS. I learned wood skils at Willard and SAHS. I achieved quite a lot with minimal college. I had a iron shop for 2 lyears. My current business is now in its 37th year. OOPS, 38th year, with skills from SAHS. I WAS SHOCKED TO LEARN THAT THERE ARE NO LONGER SHOP CLASSES AT SAHS. If this is the case it is not a wonder that there are no jobs as there are no skilled workers. inquires welcome
#7 We’re not talking about college. We’re talking about high school dropout rates. Nobody said that all students should go to college.
So, where are the Hispanic community leaders, including religious leaders, in trying to turn around the attitude of the community with regard to the importance of education? Seems the silence is pervasive and that is very sad.
Art, you really need to get your facts straight, the police department started a program for all SA kids, all the tutors are trained high school kids from all the SA high schools who will be tutoring the younger kids, its called PAALS started by a Santa Ana police officer and others volunteers from this city. Its at the old McFadden library. This program will also allow students to learn all about fitness with provided excerize equipment. and its all free for the students, are the parents happy about this, you bet! do they know you, NO! Kids drop out because they are lazy, maybe some of them are trying to make a living for thier families and have no choice. but yu cannot make excuses for all of them, what makes them so different from the kids that are struggling and staying in school so they can have a better future. Too many kids and young adults are dying to get to school and if the majority of the ones that drop out, well shame on them and thier PARENTS. I continue to see young girls pushing baby carriages and flocking to the mommy and me store and thier boyfriends driving Escalades , so please save the excuses, not everyone buys into your whining lame excuses. The majority of the problems begins at home. If they can buy new clohes, shoes and go to parties , then they can afford to at least get thier butts to school.
There is no doubt the drop out rate is undereported because the state conveniently fails to track why kids quit school. It could be to transfer out of state, out of country, or just to another local district.
All that tells me is the state doesn’t care enough along with SAUSD to find out why these kids left the district as long as the money keeps rolling in.
Now the money isn’t rolling in. Suddenly the panic hits the fan.
SAUSD hit the top 100 list only with one other OC district That was the county district who take all the students expelled from local districts. No other district in OC had one school make the top 100. Anyone with sense would ask why.
Garden Grove School district is predominantly minority as are Placentia and a number of others. Yet they have no schools on the top 100. Had this list added six more schools a 2nd SAUSD school, Valley High, would have been included. Isn’t this also the school with that highly touted program backed by ROP for vocational classes? Still they hit #106 in dropout rates statewide. What is wrong here?
Everyone seems to have an answer. Blame the school. Blame the parents. Blame the social economy. Above all blame somebody!
I do not intend to blame anyone but let the obvious show for itself. When every district with predominantly social disadvantaged minority students hits the top 100; when every district with crime ridden schools hits the top 100; when every district with simply poor management hits the top 100 then I will put the blame where it belongs.
Until that happens I can only look at SAUSD and say “What the hell is happening in your district because you are the only regular district in the entire county that had any school make the top 100 dropout list?”
It’s the parents stupid.
mary
Pedroza,
Your “La Raza” BS really takes front stage in this one. You rail on Rob Richardson for not having any children in the District but then you have no problem recommending Irene Ibarra or Deborah Vazquez – niether of which have any children in the district. I’m not sure about Lynette Verino, I think she might.
You’re nothing but a “Mexican first” loser. As long as a candidate has a mexican last name, that’s fine in your book. What an idiot! I’ll I have to do is look across the border to know I don’t want any of my “Paisanos” in charge over here.
Just look how much of a joke our “La Raza” City Council is: Murders are up, graffiti is out of control, crime is up, drop out rate is up, home values are declining way faster than anywhere else in the County. Yeah, I want more Mexicans in charge in Santa Ana, that’s exactly what we need…Assimilate or adios!!! And take your murdering, tagging, boom box playing, trash throwing, public urinating, drunken, lazy, under-achieving, no ambition, excuse making, entitlement mentatlity minded, illegal neighbors with you!
Poster #13. My children are 24, 28 and 31 years old. They have completed college and I attended Fremont Elementary School from K thru 6th grade, Willard Jr. High from 7th to 8th grade and finally graduated from SAHS in 1977.
The wisdom of a successful business woman, grandmother, and district school alumnus should be welcomed and not shunned or riduculed.
No Mas Basura Por Favor:
You must now write 100 times on the chalkboard, “I will not pick on Grandmothers”.
You should also change your name to “Self-Depracating Bigot”.
Poster 13,
You sir are ignorant. It doesn’t matter who is on the City Council as long as Dave Ream is the City Manager. He will always find a way to compromise the council members. There have been just as many Pulido hacks who were white as compared to the current crop of Latino puppets.
Ibarra has already answered your stupid comments. I doubt you will be apologizing to her anytime soon, as you are obviously without class.
Your final statements mark you for the racist pig that you are. Not all Latinos in this city are causing problems. Many are working hard and trying to raise their families the best way they can.
The truth is that Ream, who is white, and Richardson and most of the corrupt SAUSD administrators are WHITE. But I am not going to sit here and make race the issue, unlike you.
We need to get rid of Richardson, Avila and Hernandez. I believe that Ibarra, Vasquez and Verino would do a damn great job as SAUSD trustees. They are each very intelligent and passionate about bringing positive change to our city. I believe the voters will support them.
Richardson and company have had their chances. They have destroyed our school district. They will be trying to float yet another bond, next week. That is the LAST thing we ought to do – give these asses more money to blow.
#13 has the Hispanics conveniently stereotyped to fit his self hating prejudiced agenda.
You don’t want any of your “Paisanos” in charge over here? What kind of message is that to your family, including your children.You want them to be satisfied with following and not leading because you beleive your Mexican Heritage is corupt?
What is your fixation with “La Raza”. Not all Mexicans have the militant “La Raza” philosophy, as not all Whites are White Supremacy supporters. You are ignorant, as are all bigots.
You are an interesting, sad and complicated character.
The current all Hispanic Council has only been in office 1 year. Hopefully they at some point can overcome the obstacles inhibiting them from functioning in the best interest of the city’s residents.
art lomeli.
#13
For you and others trying to put the SAUSD and City messes into some neat racial profile, try something else. I’m neither Latino or Black and it is clear to me that the problems here are a clear case of color blind corruption.
Vultures feed on whatever prey they can find. The smarter vultures even prey on each other. It doesn’t matter what color that prey is.
Both the BOE and city council have learned that they rule over a community which is too busy trying to survive from day to day. A community believing they can trust government to those who appear to be smarter, can speak well, better educated, and have time to participate in government.
Sadly it doesn’t take long for these leaders to realize they can get away with just about anything they want. They line their pockets with money and bring in their cronies to jump into the trough.
As was written many of the other districts with similar student demographics did not make the top 100 dropout list. One person said it was the parents, but I disagree. SAUSD and the city have just taken advantage of these parents by hiding behind closed doors and not being honest with the public. This can happen anywhere. Compton Unified had to be taken over some years ago under similar circumstances. SAUSD can not be too far behind.
# 18,
You speak the truth.
In a control study You have a base comparative case, similar in make up.
Many place the blame on the Hispanic community for the sub-standard condition of education, safety and apperance of the City.
As # 18 points out there are examples of Cities with similar Population size, Demograhics and Budget(Anaheim) where the state of education,safety and infrastructure is in contrast to this city’s.
A comparative analysis would then indicate that factors other than race,culture and economics are at play.
There is a huge effort in this city to avoid these facts because, others would be accountable and agendas destroyed.
art lomeli.
Anyone else agree that Santa Ana should change its “Education First” off its city seal to something NOT related to education? Considering the situation is dire (at best).
#20,
The City logo has been changed from, City of Santa Ana “Education First”, to City of Santa Ana “Downtown Orange County”. The City’s website has this new logo up.
I believe this is the basis of the RSP. The Renaissance from the existing Hispanic presence to the cooked up Downtown Orange County label.
Was there a vote taken amongst the other cities in the County for this designation?
It probably is insulting to the other cities since they all have designated downtowns that captures their own essence.
art lomeli
I personally like Anaheim’s “THE NEW DOWNTOWN”. Pretty catchy don’t you think? Heard the Maglev will travel from Anaheim to Las Vegas. What happened to Santa Ana?
#3
In your case, it’s unfortunate stupidity isn’t against the law. Your comment …
“The truth is that Latino culture does not promote education!” is an indictment of your ignorance.
As the Democratic primaries come to an end, either a woman or a black man will be the Democratic nominee this presidential election cycle.
It wasn’t too long ago that people, like you, made claims that blacks and women were not educatable.
I’m glad that your brand of backward thinking has not prevailed through time and one day your words of hate will be extinguished.
Your comment is merely fashioned to suppress a class of people that you do not like.
but if we spend 200 million to put in new carpet and playground equipment, every single one of the sweethearts in sausd will go to Yale.
I find it amusing that the guy that you spoke to, Palacios, has been sitting on that Board for how many years? And somehow he’s not inept? Has he not been on the board the longest?
#7 is right,
not every student is college bound.
We need to bring back vocational training “tracks” for students.
Additionally, let’s not wait around for parents to get tough, let’s make it tougher on students to walk away from high school.
Laws should be passed to provide the following consequences for students who are not staying in high school or are not complying with school rules:
1) they just enlisted in the military until they earn a GED
2) they just gave up any right to a drivers license until they earn a GED
I have been living in Santa Ana since 1981. I have seen the changes in our streets and schools for worse. I live close to Santa Ana High School. I raised my kids to love school and they do. I have noticed that not too long ago you would see more police driving around our area, there wasn’t that many tagging on the walls etc. But now you don’t see police as much driving around. You see lots and lots of tagging on walls. When I drive back from work at 5:30pm, I’ll drive through diff small streets everyday to see how our communities are looking and see drunkies doing there business in front of kids playing around or people that are walking by don’t seem to care if these drunkies are with there pants down facing the wall doing there thing. Lots of people drinking beer in front of there homes,infront of there kids etc. Our streets are all broken down with cracks. I used to leave mess to the City to fix my street and they would come over and just fill in the holes but never to fix the entire street. I honestly do believe Santa Ana does need major help fixes starting in our own homes with our own family, schools, streets, gangs, graffiti, even robbery at night. My son once went to the corner store on Mcfadden and was assaulted by two kids, took his change, his nike shoes and good sweater that he was wearing. I was very thankful nothing worse happened that night. I did call that cops to report it. I have heard from neighbors that this robbery things has continue in Santa Ana at night. I will continue to pray for help to our Santa Ana. God bless us all.
Irma,
Thanks for reading our blog and sharing your comments. With our economy in tatters, crime has gone up. We all need to be careful. I warn my kids all the time to be vigilant.
My daughter graduated from Santa Ana High a few years back. Thankfully she made it through OK.
I have seen an improvement in the streets as many of them have been repaired, but much work remains to be done. I know our public works agency is working hard to address these issues.
I am so glad to read that your kids love school. You have done a great job as a parent! You should be proud of your efforts. We cannot fix all of society’s problems but if we tend to our own kids that is a great start.
I was reading the above mess from #7 on consequences teens should have when dropping out of high school. I totally agree. There should be strike one, two, and three. Just like if we get too many driving tickets we will get our license suspended. So we try to drive carefully. Teens too should get some punishment. Otherwise if we give only the parents warnings it will not be the same due to kids now a days don’t have the respect. Some don’t care for there parents. They know if they do wrong there parents will have to give their face not them.
I have heard so many stories from friends, and families. Kids just don’t care anymore for there parents. On some families there is no more family values like we used to have when we were growing up.
I personalty coming from a poor family of 8 but very hard working parents who tried their best to give us a roof and provide food at the table. We did not have money but we were given alot of love, showed us family values, respect, love, caring. I cherish these values and memories more than money.
Today with 7 grown up kids, hard working husband and myself with the job I love the most working at a hospital. The one thing I think I am missing is to have a great neighborhood in Santa Ana or at least a descant and safe one. Some people ask me why don’t I move to another city that is safe and nicer. I always respond like my dad use to say I love Santa Ana and I will die here……. and he did. Why should we run away from our city instead of helping it grow better. We can all help little by little with our actions. I have been reporting any bad behavior to the police. I believe if the Hispanic community did this, our city would change rapidly too, but I feel they are afraid to report anything they see. I believe this because the way Hispanic families were raised to mind there own business unless it was involving them. I too was raised this way, but what is out there in the streets will affect us and our community. Our teens and grand kids will want to be in the streets because of what they see and will continue to drop out of school due to this kind of environment. I will continue to pray for our families and our city of Santa Ana.
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