Dacula High first Georgia school termed `persistently dangerous'

ATLANTA - A high school in Gwinnett County is the first in Georgia to be deemed ``persistently dangerous&#39;&#39; under designations formed under the No Child Left Behind Act, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Saturday.<br> <br> Dacula High, about 25 miles northeast of Atlanta, will be hung with the label next year after its third serious crime within three years a stabbing in August state schools Superintendent Kathy Cox said Friday.<br> <br> ``They already know about it,&#39;&#39; Cox said while speaking to an introduction to law enforcement class at McIntosh High School in Peachtree City.<br> <br> Under the law, schools labeled ``persistently dangerous&#39;&#39; must allow students to transfer to other schools within the same system.<br> <br> Gwinnett County school officials have acknowledged that the stabbing sets the stage for Dacula to be labeled ``persistently dangerous.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> ``It is pretty well documented that the school has accepted the situation,&#39;&#39; associate superintendent Don Fielder said earlier this week. ``They want to take the positive steps to have the safest environment to be present at Dacula High.<br> <br> Fielder said steps includes installing security cameras and giving students ID badges.<br> <br> The school had two serious incidents last school year a case of aggravated child molestation and one of first-degree arson and one the previous year, a case of aggravated battery.<br> <br> The state will release its list of ``persistently dangerous&#39;&#39; schools in July.<br> <br> Of the nation&#39;s 91,000 public schools, only 38 in four states have been assigned the label.