Sumter County School Shines with High Attendance Rates

In Sumter County, one school is making waves for all the right reasons. Alice Drive Elementary School has earned the first-ever "Every Day Counts" award from the Sumter School District.

A Remarkable Achievement

This honor comes with a 95.4% student attendance rate, which is no small feat. The school district has been working hard to improve attendance, and it looks like their efforts are paying off.

Why Attendance Matters

Attendance is one of the best ways to predict how well students will do in school. However, getting kids to show up every day is easier said than done. The district has seen a 5% improvement in chronic absenteeism compared to last year. That might not sound like much, but it's a step in the right direction. Still, there's more work to do. The district has seen a drop of over 2,000 students enrolled compared to last year, and chronic absenteeism is still at 24%.

The Award and Its Impact

Alice Drive Elementary received a $500 incentive as part of the award. The school plans to use this money to keep up their good work. They want to ensure kids are not just showing up but also on time. They also want to keep parent contact information up to date.

"Talking to parents is a big part of our success. We give out flyers and pamphlets and discuss attendance during parent conferences." Principal Eric Masaitis

A Student's Perspective

For third-grader Gabriela Pineda, going to school is something she enjoys. She loves learning new things and getting better every day. Her positive attitude is exactly what the school wants to encourage.

District Rules on Absences

The district has rules about absences. Students are allowed only 10 unexcused absences per school year. If a student exceeds that limit, the school steps in with an Attendance Intervention Plan. The goal is to figure out how to help the family and make sure the student doesn't fall behind.