ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, January 2, 1997 TAG: 9701020031
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A10 EDITION: METRO
DROPOUT rates of local public-school systems aren't normally included in regional economic indicators, but they could be. No less than statistics on new business licenses and building permits, they are arrows pointing to a region's economic potential.
A declining dropout rate in Roanoke County is not just good news about public schools. It's an economic arrow pointing up.
Don't get it? Sure you do.
Educational attainment is now more closely correlated than ever with economic prospects. Kids who lack even a high-school education will prove a drag on the economy. And a well-educated future work force is critically important to businesses and industries planning to expand or relocate in an area.
The county's dropout rate, reduced to 1.1 percent in the past school year, means it has more than 6,300 students, grades seven through 12, in the pipeline of productive workers that employers will want and need.
It's impressive as well that the county's dropout rate has been steadily declining. Nine years ago, it was 4.3 percent, higher than the state average. Lest anyone forget, such vital signs of continuing improvement in public schools also cast a region in a favorable light when business prospects come for a look-see.
Of course, there's no need to count economic-development chickens before they hatch in order to congratulate the school system. Educators weren't angling for a Chamber of Commerce award when they embarked several years ago on a systematic program to reduce the dropout rate.
They did it for the good of the county's public-school children. They did it by putting a new focus on early intervention and counseling for kids at the first hint that they might think of dropping out.
Clearly, children will have a much brighter future if they complete their secondary education and, if at all possible, pursue higher education thereafter. So, too, will those enrolled in other of the region's public-school systems, including Roanoke city schools, that have launched similar dropout-prevention programs.
Call every success with every student a quality-of-life arrow pointing up.
LENGTH: Short : 45 linesby CNB