Suspensions, fights soar in St. Paul high schools in first quarter

Suspensions and fights rose sharply at St. Paul School District high schools in a rocky first quarter marked by several high-profile incidents.

The number of events resulting in students being disciplined jumped nearly 50 percent — from 118 in the first quarter of 2014-15 to 176 this year, according to district data.

Overall, suspensions were up nearly 60 percent, from 639 to 1,115, with more than three-quarters of the students being black, a point of concern to Superintendent Valeria Silva. About 30 percent of St. Paul’s 37,800 students were black, according to the Oct. 1, 2014, enrollment reported on the school district’s website.

http://www.startribune.com/suspensions-fights-soar-in-st-paul-high-schools-in-first-quarter/362827001/