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<br /> ro?J£ <br /> While the local Chamber of Commerce promotes San Marcos as an idyllic <br /> setting on a crystal-clear, pristine river with its headwaters here, it is not a <br /> complete picture of the community. The proximity of San Marcos to <br /> metropolitan areas leads to some negative influences that are typically <br /> considered urban in nature, and not what one would expect in a small tow~. <br /> For example. in the last quarter of 1992, there were several drive-by shootings, <br /> two "gang style" murders, and one random drive-by shooting which resulted <br /> in a fatality, although it is not clear if it was gang related. In 1991, there was a <br /> grisly murder of a SWT secretary by two addicts who stated they killed her for <br /> money to buy drugs, and a SWT student on LSD shot and killed two friends <br /> while on a "bad trip". The presence of the University has both positive and <br /> negative influences as well. While it provides a base of well-educated citizens <br /> to be involved in civic affairs, university students often serve as negative role <br /> ~ <br /> models as far as alcohol and other drug use are concerned. They reportedly <br /> make alcohol easily accessible for High School students by agreeing to <br /> purchase beer and other alcoholic beverages for them as well as by selling <br /> other drugs. <br /> The San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District has a total of nine <br /> , <br /> campuses serving 6,406 students. Grades 6-12 campuses serve 3,011 students. <br /> This (6-12) population is 63% Hispanic, 32% White, 4% African American, and <br /> 1 % other ethnicity. Using criteria established by Texas Education Agency and <br /> San Marcos Consolidated School District, the percentage of students identified <br /> as being at risk for dropping out of school is a disheartening 38.9~ overall, <br /> and 39.5% for grades 6-12. <br /> 2 <br />