Violence in N.J. schools falls, drug abuse rises

Violence in New Jersey public schools declined 5 percent during the 2007-2008 school year, but substance abuse rose, according to an annual report released yesterday.

State Education Commissioner Lucille E. Davy credited the decrease in violent incidents to the state's continuing antiviolence efforts.

She blamed the 4 percent increase in substance abuse, in part, on the growing problem of children with access to prescription drugs. Davy said the department planned to address the issue.

"It's something we certainly will be focusing on going forward," she said yesterday.

Local counties also saw an increase in incidents of drug offenses, but some also saw increases in violence, counter to the state trend.

Statewide, the substance most frequently abused in the school setting remained marijuana. Alcohol was a close second, though the report found that its abuse had declined between the 2005-2006 and 2007-2008 school years.

The report provides data on incidents of violence, vandalism, substance abuse, and the presence of weapons in public schools. It is required by the Legislature and is compiled from information reported by the school districts.

Total incidents statewide in the 2007-2008 school year fell 5 percent to 17,666, compared with 18,633 incidents during the previous school year. Enrollment fell 1 percent to 1,378,613 students.

Incidents of violence fell 4.6 percent to 10,998. Vandalism fell 10.5 percent to 2,997. Weapons offenses fell 14 percent to 1,164.

Substance abuse rose to 2,763 incidents, up 4 percent from 2006-2007.

No school was classified as "persistently dangerous" under the state's definition as set forth in the federal No Child Left Behind Act, Davy said. Plainfield High School in Union County met the criteria for that designation in the previous year, but improved after corrective actions were implemented, according to the state.

In South Jersey, counties still have areas that need improvement. In Burlington County, where enrollment dropped 1.7 percent between 2006-2007 and 2007-2008, the number of violent incidents fell to 771 from 885. Substance-related incidents, however, increased to 152 from 133.

In Camden County, where enrollment declined 2.6 percent to 84,820 students, violent incidents rose to 757 from 724. Substance-related incidents increased to 227 from 190.

Gloucester County, where enrollment remained static at about 50,000 students, violent incidents increased to 516 from 464 and substance-related incidents rose to 145 from 99.