EDITOR'S NOTE: The start of a new school year is a time for opportunities and challenges. Today, Jamilla Shabazz, a 14-year-old, starts high school. Jamilla is like other teens, with hopes and dreams. She has goals and the desire to succeed, but it's a long way to graduation day in 2013. How will her journey fare? We'll check on Jamilla and her progress in school.
Today is the first day of high school for Jamilla Shabazz. She has her outfit picked out: Hot pink sneakers, a spray paint Obama graphic print T-shirt and Bermuda shorts.
Jamilla, 14, has a goal for her freshman year at T.W. Josey High School: to be on the A/B honor role.
"If I don't, I'm going to be a big failure for myself," Jamilla said.
She also is looking beyond freshman year. Jamilla wants to be a registered nurse or a cosmetologist, eventually owning her own salon, both of which require schooling past high school.
She has a lot going for her: Jamilla was a good student in middle school, and she's involved with a community group and her church. But she also must overcome some potential stumbling blocks, factors that place her at risk to drop out of high school before graduation. She's from a single-parent home, and one parent didn't graduate from high school, factors associated with dropping out.
Only 62.6 percent of Josey students made it through high school to graduation, according to the Adequate Yearly Progress report for 2008-09.
Freshman year is crucial to success, said Steven Page, assistant professor in teacher education at Augusta State University.
"That grade traditionally has the highest failure rate," he said.
It's also the transition from middle school to high school, both academically and emotionally.
Jamilla is being raised by her mother, who didn't graduate from high school. Jamilla moved to Augusta three years ago from Long Island, N.Y., in March of her fifth-grade year.
"It just became too financially hard," said her mother, Aveanne McKnight. She moved her four children and her brother's twins, who are also under her care, after coming to visit.
"I saw it was peaceful," she said.
Jamilla's family lives with her aunt, eight people in a four-bedroom house. Ms. McKnight says she has looked for another place to live, but right now she would like to buy a car so she can drive herself to work. Finances are tight with bills to pay and seven other people -- including Ms. McKnight's mother, who has multiple sclerosis -- depending on her paycheck.
Ms. McKnight works 40-60 hours a week as a personal care aide. Sometimes she works shifts that keep her from coming home. Jamilla's aunt helps out with her and the other children.
Jamilla has some things going for her: She sometimes attends Teens in Action With Goals and is involved with her church, Macedonia Baptist. Last year, she was the manager of the girls' basketball team at Glenn Hills Middle School. She makes good grades, ending the eighth grade year with a B average.
"My mother didn't graduate high school, so that's what I want to do," Jamilla said.
Ms. McKnight had her oldest child and dropped out of school at 17. She doesn't expect Jamilla to drop out.
"She knows what I've been through," Ms. McKnight said.
Reach Sarah Day Owen at (706) 823-3223 or sarah.owen@augustachronicle.com.
RISK FACTORS
Lack of accurate data has led to under reported dropout rates. Students who have dropped out are sometimes counted as transfers. Graduation rates, too, are estimates, because Georgia does not yet have the ability to track individual students.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION REPORTS SAY: In Georgia, 6.4 percent of students dropped out of high school in the 2006-2007 school year. The national dropout percentage for the same year is 4.1 percent.
KIDS COUNT DATA SAYS: Ten percent of teens ages 16-19 in Georgia are not in school and not high school graduates. In South Carolina, it's nine percent.
The percentage of Richmond County residents 25 and older without a high school education is 22 percent, while Georgia's is 21 percent and the national percentage is 17 percent.
Sources: Georgia Department of Education Report Card and 2000 Census data compiled by University of Georgia's Dr. Doug Bachtel, who creates the Georgia County Guide; Kids Count Data Center.
Factors that contribute to students' failing to complete high school:
- Extra years spent in high school
- Falling behind in credits
- Ethnic/gender distinctions
- Age, and age when entering high school
- Economically disadvantaged
- Disabilities
- Excessive days absent
- Georgia High School Graduation Tests, failing or not attempting
- Achievement scores in math and/or reading
- Suspensions
- Lack of involvement in extracurricular activities
- Pregnancy or teen parent
- Family status
- Educational attainment of parents
- Language other than English in the home
- Employment, more 20 hours per week
Source: Worksheet of Common Risk Factors: Peach State Pathways Student Confidential Information and Potential Risk Factors, Georgia Department of Education.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Back ![Jamilla Shabazz wants to graduate because her father, who died in 2004, told her to stay in school. "I want it for myself, too," she said. Her father graduated high school and earned an associate's degree. Michael Holahan/Staff](/sites/default/files/editorial/images/spotted/76/762620.jpg "Jamilla Shabazz wants to graduate because her father, who died in 2004, told her to stay in school. "I want it for myself, too," she said. Her father graduated high school and earned an associate's degree. Michael Holahan/Staff")
It's good to hear that she is involved in positive activities and is looking toward her future. I hope that things work out for her!
Good to hear a positive story. I wish her and her family nothing but blessings!!
A positive attempt at giving these kids some hope, but lets try to stay focused on education. A typical error in judgement for so many disadvantaged youths are the importance they place on material things, i.e. clothes. It is a complete waste of effort and dollars. (Ole honest Abe went to school in a log cabin and was mostly self-taught) These teens should have school uniforms period. That simple step would change so many attitudes, resulting in a measureable increase in achievement. Fancy clothes are a major distraction in public schools and many kids only go to school just to show off their "gear." Good luck to the young lady in the article, but picking an outfit for school seems to be a misplaced priority.
Jamilla, with Christ all things are possible.
Best of luck Jamilla ! Stay positive and focused and you will succeed. Have a wonderful first day of high school!
Good luck. Stay focused...Enjoy high school.
Just stay focused and realize you will have a better life long term with an education.
Good luck, to this student you will have people along the way that will doubt you, but keep your head up and your mind focus.
It makes you want to cry. Bless you young lady, people are proud of you already. Never give up. It took my daughter 13 times to pass one part of the graduation test, but she never gave up, and once she did pass it, she went on to college, she graduated with honors (Cum lade) and she is working on her Masters now. So put God first like we do and all things are possible.
Justus4, I agree that ideally, uniforms would be required in public schools, but that just isn't likely to happen soon. Actually, it seemed to me that, in comparison to her other goals, clothing was a low priority for Ms. Shabazz. At the same time, choosing what to wear is one of the joys of preparing for a new school year, a new job or any other important undertaking. Her persistence is admirable. She will go far.
Looks to me like her goal should be to drop about 40 pounds.
Hey Justus, it's spelled j-u-d-g-m-e-n-t. Look it up.
Actually... either spelling is correct. Look it up!