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The Poughkeepsie City School District is addressing chronic absenteeism while celebrating students with perfect attendance. Despite efforts to improve attendance, the district continues to face challenges with students missing school. In January, more than 720 students achieved perfect attendance, a positive sign amid ongoing concerns about absenteeism.
Krieger Elementary School, which had the highest attendance in December, received a $500 incentive from the Community Schools program. Principal Carolyn Fields plans to use the funds for a student luncheon. The district has implemented an attendance incentive program, financed by a My Brother’s Keeper Family and Community Engagement grant, to encourage students to attend school regularly.
The district's attendance percentage increased from 89% to 91% in the first two months of the school year, but the rate of chronic absenteeism also rose from 27.9% to 31.9%. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of school days. The district has launched the "Attendance Matters" campaign to raise awareness and engage the community in addressing absenteeism.
Efforts include engaging families, acknowledging attendance achievements, and using the Everyday Labs system to notify families of attendance trends. Community Schools Executive Director Natasha Brown highlighted the impact of external factors, such as food and shelter needs, on school attendance. The district is seeking input from families and the community to find solutions.
The district's initiatives aim to improve student attendance and, ultimately, academic success. As part of the campaign, schools compete monthly to reduce absenteeism and increase attendance. In January, Poughkeepsie High School and Clinton Elementary were recognized for their efforts and received $500 each to enhance their educational environments.