Local high school crime stats are lower than state averages

By Michelle Alaimo

Crime statistics for the Los Gatos- Saratoga Joint Union High School District for the 1997-1998 school year are all well below the statewide high school district average, according to a Safe Schools report released late last month.

Since 1995, school districts are required to compile crime rates for drug and alcohol offenses, battery, assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, sex offenses, possession of a weapon, property crimes, and loss per student.

In the last school year, the LG-SJUHSD reported 7.12 drug and alcohol offenses per 1,000 students, compared to the statewide high school district average of 11.76.

An average of 1.98 cases or five incidents of battery and assault with a deadly weapon occurred. LG-SJUHSD Superintendent Cindy Ranii said that many of these reports concerned students who were in possession of knives. None of the incidents led to injuries, and all of the students were recommended for expulsion.

For the second year in a row, the district had no incidents of robbery, compared to the high school district statewide average of .23.

The district was also below the statewide average for possession of a weapon with .79 or 2 cases compared to 2.44 for high school districts statewide.

Property crimes, including stolen or damaged items, were also below the average at 2.37 incidents, or six cases. Ranii said that five of those cases involved theft of items such as bicycles, and one was damage to someone's property. If the theft is considered major, Ranii said the student is recommended for expulsion.

In those thefts, the district lost only about 14 cents per student, or a total of $350. The high school statewide district average is $1.77 per student.

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