Last school year, 426 students in grades seven through 12 quit schools. That compares to 457 the prior year, according to figures from Johnston County Schools.

Last year, 3.08 percent of students in grades seven through 12 dropped out, down from 3.39 percent the year before.

In the high school grades, 4.58 percent of students dropped out, down from 4.92 percent the prior year.

But the rates in Johnston inched above the statewide averages for the first time in years. Statewide, 2.93 percent of students in grades seven through 12 dropped out last year, down from 3.42 percent the year before. Statewide, 4.27 percent of high school students dropped out last year, compared with 4.97 percent the year before.

The Johnston school board heard the statistics at a meeting last week.

"The reality is, dropping out is a slow-motion dive," said Dr. Oliver Johnson, head of student services in Johnston schools. "We can watch them walking toward the cliff slowly."

Students who have had to repeat grades are especially at risk of eventually dropping out, Johnson said. Of last year's 426 dropouts, 340 had repeated at least one grade, he said.

In Johnston last year, 217 whites quit school, followed by 100 blacks and 89 Hispanics. But while whites made up 70 percent of the student population, they accounted for just 50.9 percent of dropouts. Blacks made up 21.4 percent of the student population last year but 23.5 percent of dropouts. Hispanics were 15.6 percent of the student body last year; they made up 20.9 percent of dropouts.

School leaders touted programs within the school system aimed at helping students. The evening academy allows students to make up courses, while the fast-track program allows some struggling eighth-graders who have been retained more than once to advance to high school halfway through the next school year. The early college and middle college programs offer alternatives for students.

"We really think we have programs that will pay off, are paying off," said Keith Beamon, chief academic officer for Johnston schools.

Beamon said extracurricular programs help encourage students to stay in school. School leaders are facing a tight budget next year, and Beamon said cuts to athletic programs or the evening academy could lead to more dropouts.

"Our challenge is to raise academic standards for all students and then ensure at-risk students have the support to succeed and graduate from school," Johnson said.