What does this measure?

The number of students who were suspended from school for at least one full day, expressed as a percentage of total enrollment. Data pertain only to out-of-school suspensions; both short-term and long-term suspensions count as a suspension.

Why is this important?

Suspensions are an indication of the level of misbehavior in schools, which has a negative impact on the education of both suspended and non-suspended students.

How is the Greater Capital Region performing?

In 2007, more than 7% of students in the region had been suspended at least once, compared to less than 6% statewide. The region’s suspension rate has consistently been higher than the statewide rate. In both the region and the state, suspensions remained relatively steady from 1998 to 2006 before rising in 2007. The suspension rate in Schenectady County was consistently the highest among regional counties and nearly twice the state rate in 2007, while the suspension rate in Albany County increased by almost 40% between 1998 and 2007.

Notes about the data

Suspension rates may vary by policy and enforcement between schools; thus lower rates do not necessarily mean that students are behaving better.