The number of drug, alcohol and tobacco incidents in Alexandria City Public Schools has doubled in just two years, according to Virginia officials. Data from the Virginia Department of Education show a dropping number of attacks against students and staff in the small district of 19 schools, of which there are five middle schools and just one high school, T.C. Williams.
But when it came to drinking, smoking and taking drugs on school grounds — or simply bringing the contraband to class — the number of infractions jumped from 26 in 2008-2009 to 32 in 2009-2010, before hitting a record 52 last year.
| Breaking the rules | |||
| Offense category | 2008-2009 | 2009-2010 | 2010-2011 |
| Weapons offenses | 22 | 38 | 29 |
| Offenses against student | 11 | 57 | 48 |
| Offenses against staff | 1 | 33 | 24 |
| Other offenses against persons | 453 | 285 | 290 |
| Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug offenses | 26 | 32 | 52 |
| Property offenses | 69 | 31 | 36 |
| Disorderly or disruptive behavior offenses | 629 | 907 | 465 |
| Technology offenses | 7 | 57 | 20 |
| All other offenses | 152 | 141 | 150 |
| Source: Virginia Department of Education | |||
“It might have been an isolated incident where a lot of kids were together that drove the number up, like bringing alcohol to a football game and getting caught,” said Kelly Alexander, spokeswoman for ACPS.
She said principals have been trained on how to report incidents correctly, which might account for part of the sharp increase. “I can’t say there’s any resounding alarm in the city that there’s a huge problem with this,” Alexander said.
Students suspended for having or using drugs on campus are usually out for less than 10 days, and are permitted to return as soon as they show they’ve sought treatment.
Priscilla Goodwin, the PTA president at T.C. Williams, said she aware that many 10th-graders were already drinking.
“I’m concerned because it’s dangerous for them to drink and drive, and I’m concerned because it’s an issue we have to be constantly vigilant about,” Goodwin said.
T.C. Williams’ new principal, Suzanne Maxey, has been stricter than leaders of the past, which may have led to more students caught than actual cases, Goodwin said.
“Last homecoming, when she first got here, a bunch of kids were suspended for drinking because they brought alcohol to the homecoming dance. By prom time, the seniors knew she wasn’t playing, and they didn’t even have alcohol on their breath.”
Alexandria had a higher rate than neighboring Arlington and Fairfax counties for infractions per number of middle and high school students — about one per 100.
According to the state, Arlington County Public Schools saw 67 drug, tobacco and alcohol infractions last school year, down from 101 the prior year and 82 in 2008-2009.
Last school year marked a big drop for Fairfax County Public Schools, where offenses dropped to 788 from 915 in 2009-2010 and 999 in 2008-2009.
