CHARLOTTE –Hopewell High School reported another decline in crime and violence during the 2009-10 year, according to a report released last week by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.
In 2008-09, Hopewell reported the second highest number of incidents in the school system – with 68.
But in the past year, reported incidents on the Hopewell campus dropped to 47, placing it sixth among Charlotte-Mecklenburg public high schools. North Mecklenburg High School followed in seventh with 43 reported incidents.
Incidents reported at Hopewell fell into the following categories: possession of a weapon, nine; assaults involving a weapon, two; drug possession, 18; sexual offenses, three; possession of alcohol, five; assault on school personnel, eight; robbery with a weapon, one; and assault resulting in serious injury, one.
Hopewell was the only high school in the district that reported an assault resulting in serious injury.
North Mecklenburg reported incidents in the following categories: possession of a weapon, four; drug possession, 16; and possession of alcohol, 26.
Among the 10 types of violent crimes tracked by the state, four declined across the school district: assault involving a weapon, kidnapping, rape and robbery without a dangerous weapon. Three of the 10 remained at zero for both years: death by other than natural causes, robbery with a dangerous weapon and taking indecent liberties with a minor. The remaining three increased: assault resulting in serious injury, sexual assault and sexual offense.
In all, the number of incidents classified as violent acts increased from 62 to 107 district wide for the 2009-10 school year, the data shows.
Other offenses for which the state gathers data include assault on school personnel; bomb threats; burning of school buildings; possession of alcoholic beverages, controlled substances, firearms or explosives; and weapons.
All of these incidents increased in the district as a whole during the 2009-10 school year, according to state report. The report shows:
• The largest increase occurred in possession of a weapon – 543 incidents compared to 484 in the 2008-09 school year.
• The next biggest increase came in assaults on school personnel – 215 incidents compared to 169 in the previous school year. The number of reported assaults may have increased because the state changed its definition of “school personnel,” adding volunteers, police officers, sports referees and others.
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