Short-term Suspensions From School (2006–2024)

Definition

The number and rate of short-term suspensions for each of the state's 100 county and 15 city school districts.

Data for this indicator only include short-term suspensions, which are suspensions lasting for 10 days or less. The numbers may include multiple suspensions per student, and therefore may not represent the number of unique students with short-term suspensions.

Note: Beginning with the 2018-19 school year, short-term suspension rates summarized in the NC Department of Instruction's Consolidated Data Report were calculated per 1000 students, rather than per 100 students as was the case in previous years (for more information, please refer to page 29 of the NC Department of Public Instruction's Consolidated Data Report, 2021-22). In order to remain consistent for the purpose of trend analysis for this indicator, the short-term suspension rates were standardized to reflect a rate per 100 students using the following formula:
(number of suspensions / average daily membership) * 100.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, starting in March of the 2019-2020 school year and
continuing through the 2020-2021 school year, public school units across the state employed
unprecedented methods to ensure continued student learning by utilizing various modes of
instruction and student outreach. As such, caution should be taken when comparing data
reported for the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years to data reported for prior and
subsequent years.

Data Source

Public Schools of North Carolina, State Board of Education, Department Of Public Instruction.

Notes

State totals for number and rate of short-term suspensions have been revised to represent only the state's 100 county and 15 city school districts.

Data accessed March 2025.

Last Updated

2025-03