BCPS reports dropout/attrition concerns; multilingual learners identified as highest-risk group

Baltimore County Public Schools reported attrition and dropout data Dec. 2 and outlined interventions aimed at keeping students on track for graduation.

District presenters said the official attrition (dropout) rate for the Class of 2024 was reported at about 10.14% and highlighted that multilingual learners (with Hispanic students largest within that group locally) currently show the highest attrition risk in BCPS. The district contrasted its local patterns with statewide data, noting differences in which student subgroups are most affected.

To address attrition, BCPS described multiple strategies: targeted attendance and chronic-absence interventions; expanded credit-recovery options and alternative scheduling (evening and summer offerings); early-warning dashboards that update nightly and monitor the 'ABCs' (attendance, behavior, course grades) together with MCAP and WIDA scores; project-graduation spreadsheets that track every senior's credits and other graduation requirements; ninth-grade on-track monitoring; and instructional and language supports such as SIOP and partnerships for alternative pathways (CCBC, CTE experiences). Staff said flexible scheduling and workforce-oriented CTE options were among the student-suggested strategies for keeping multilingual learners engaged.

District leaders emphasized a hands-on approach: administrators, pupil personnel workers and executive directors conduct home visits, meetings, and frequent credit checks to intervene early. Presenters said some student departures result from 'whereabouts unknown' codes that still count in state dropout statistics, and that the district is working to distinguish students who have moved from those who have left the system entirely.

Next steps: continued monitoring of cohort data, enhanced early-warning intervention protocols across high schools and middle grades, expanded summer/virtual recovery options and targeted outreach to multilingual-learner families.