Suspensions drop by more than half at Glendale Unified schools

Fewer students are being suspended in Glendale schools, according to data released by state officials.

During the 2014-15 school year, 760 students were suspended in Glendale Unified, down from 1,676 reported in 2013-14, according to state data.

Overall, that figure gave Glendale Unified, with its 26,200 students, a 2.8% suspension rate, lower than the state average of 3.8%.

Among the four high schools, Hoover High School reported the highest number of suspensions at 169, followed by Glendale High with 134 suspensions and Crescenta Valley High School with 79 suspensions.

With 40 suspensions, Clark Magnet High School reported the fewest among the high schools.

Two students were expelled from the district. One attended Jewel City Community Day School and the other went to Daily High, the district’s continuation campus, according to the data.

In praising fewer suspensions and expulsions in California, state officials applauded the alternative programs and options that administrators are using to tackle discipline.

Scott Anderle, assistant director of student support services in Glendale Unified, said district officials aim for prevention over punishment.

“We’re trying to move to interventions before suspensions,” he said.

When suspending students in Glendale Unified, administrators often opt for “in-house” suspensions, where students complete their school work on campus and receive one-on-one guidance from teachers instead of spending several days off campus.

In the past, students in Glendale received five-day suspensions for drug use on campus. These days, they are likely to receive two-day suspensions and spend the other three days in drug treatment programs.

In other cases, students could take part in anger management or counseling sessions.

“We’re coming up with more ideas like that to get the students help,” Anderle said.

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Kelly Corrigan, kelly.corrigan@latimes.com

Twitter: @kellymcorrigan