Schools Observe High Attendance Day to Encourage Student Success

LaRue County Schools are striving for no absent students on September 12, in honor of High Attendance Day. 

High Attendance Day is a state-wide effort to encourage students and parents to make school attendance a priority. 

Ashley Gardner, Director of Pupil Personnel Assistant, explained that the district is already putting initiatives in place for the day. 

“Administrators and Front Office Staff across the district are working to make this year one of our best years of high attendance yet,” she said.

While it might seem that attendance doesn’t play a direct role in student academic performance, increasing research supports a close connection. 

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, Students who attend school regularly have been shown to achieve at higher levels than students who do not have regular attendance. 

“This relationship between attendance and achievement may appear early in a child's school career,” the Center said. 

The research rings true for many LaRue County administrators and teachers, including Interim Director of Student Services Penny Cecil. 

“When students attend school ready to learn each day, you can see a clear difference in their academic performance,” Cecil said. “The fewer amount of classes students miss, the more they are able to stay on track with learning and it enables them to stay on track. It is surprising how quickly even 2 absences a month can impact their educational journey.”

Absenteeism is a problem that affects children of all grade levels, but it can often compound through the years into crippling effects on older students. 

Assistant Director of Student Services Chris Price pointed out attendance habits — both positive and negative — can influence a student’s future success. 

“One of the key data points for parents to know is that chronic absenteeism by 6th grade is the leading indicator that a student will drop out of school,” Price said. “This is why we encourage parents/guardians even when their children are young to make attendance a priority. 

“When we all emphasize its importance, we can positively influence the future success of our children.