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Random drug-testing program found 15.6% positive rate among tested high school students, district report shows
Summary
The board received the annual random drug-testing report for 2024–25 showing 263 tested students and 41 positive results (15.6%). The district said the testing targets student-athletes, extracurricular participants and students with campus parking privileges.
Haywood County Schools presented its annual random drug-testing report for the 2024–25 school year, reporting 263 students were tested and 41 tests returned positive, a 15.6% positive rate.
The district explained that random testing applies to high school students (grades 9–12) who participate in interscholastic athletics, certain competitive extracurricular activities or who have campus parking privileges. The district tests roughly 10% of the eligible population each year and contracts the testing through Wolf Labs.
Breakdown by school in 2024–25 included 11 tests at Central Haywood, eight at Haywood Early College, 128 at Pisgah High School and 116 at Tuscola High School. Positive results by school were four at Central Haywood, three at Haywood Early College, 14 at Pisgah and 20 at Tuscola.
District staff and board members noted the program’s preventive intent. One board member said the testing is “well worth the investment” if it deters a single student from beginning drug use.
The report showed the positive rate was up about 6 percentage points from the previous year, when the district reported about a 9.6% positive rate. The board did not take action on the report; it was presented for information and routine oversight.
