Disparities in Suspensions of African American Males

African American males were suspended at a rate more than six times that of white males across the district and over three times the rate of other students. In elementary schools this ratio was closer to nine times higher while in high schools the rate was slightly over double the rate of other groups. Suspensions soared to a high in middle school for African American boys and were highly disproportionate at that level as well.

While 18% of African American males were suspended, half of these students were suspended multiple times during the school year. This ratio was present in all school levels, while for non-African American students, the ratio of single to multiple suspensions was one in four.

Three offenses account for 75% of all suspensions of African American male students: disruption-defiance of authority, causing or threatening injury, and profanity-vulgarity. Of all African American male students, 11% were suspended for disruption-defiance compared to just 3% of all other students.

African American male students were suspended for a combined total of 5,869 days in 2010-2011, representing an estimated Average Daily Attendance (ADA) financial loss of approximately $160,000 to the district.

 The full suspension report is available here.