PATCH REPORT: The State of Milwaukee-Area School Suspension/Expulsion Rates

WISCONSIN -- It goes without saying that a safe school district is a benefit to the students, parents, teachers and the community.

As the 2016 school year gets underway, we crunched the numbers to find out how one small piece of the puzzle - student suspensions and expulsions - looks for area school districts.

For almost everybody, there is good news. A majority of suburban district's suspension rates in 2014-15 (the most recent data available) were below state averages. Most were significantly lower when compared with the state average of 3.6 percent. By comparison, just a few miles away, the Milwaukee Public School District's suspension rate was a staggering 10.6 percent over the same period - down from an unfathomable 23.2 percent in 2010-2011.

Suspensions Rates by School District in percent.

1. Milwaukee 10.6
2. Racine 9.5
3. Saint Francis 7.1
4. West Allis 6.0
5. Cudahy 4.9
6. South Milwaukee 3.5
7. Greenfield 3.0
8. Oak Creek-Franklin 2.9
9. Wauwatosa 2.8
10. Greendale 2.7
11. Menomonee Falls 2.0
12. Mequon-Thiensville 1.9
13. Shorewood 1.7
14. Whitnall 1.6
15. Waukesha 1.5
16. Hamilton 1.4
17. New Berlin 1.4
18. Hudson 1.2
19. Muskego-Norway 0.8
20. Whitefish Bay 0.7
21. Elmbrook 0.6
22. Fox Point 0.4

Statewide Suspension/Expulsion by Incident Type

Enrollment 870,652

Weapon or Drug-Related Incidents

Alcohol-Related: 507
Dangerous Weapon (non-firearm): 921
Drug-Related: 2,466
Handgun: 17
Other Firearm: 30
Shotgun or Rifle: 26
Assault: 0
Endangering Behavior: 1
Other: 20

Non-Weapon or Drug-Related Incidents

Assault: 4,261
Endangering Behavior: 10, 147
Other: 35,360