Overton School District Making Improvements On Chronic Absenteeism Rates

Overton County School System reducing its chronic absenteeism rates, with new statistics indicating the district has gone from 14 percent to 11 percent in just one year.

A child is considered chronically absent if they miss at least 18 days, or ten percent, of the school year both excused and unexcused. Attendance Supervisor Cristy Miller said they have tried to improve their rates through constant communication with parents and students about the importance of showing up for school.

“We also brought students in, talked with them, tried to get to the bottom of why the absences were there,” Miller said. “We also gave parents statistics as far as what chronic absenteeism does to students when they miss.”

Miller said the system’s highest chronic absenteeism rate, Livingston Academy at 33.3 percent, dropped down to just 27.5 percent. Livingston Middle School also improved its rates, which also dropped five percent. Wilson Elementary’s rates went from 19 percent to 11 percent.

Director of Schools Donnie Holman said in addition to academics, improving chronic absenteeism rates helps the district with its scoring at the state level. He said that is something they have really been working on for the last year and a half.

“That’s one of the reasons that we’re pretty excited right now that our district is definitely headed in the right direction,” Holman said. “(…) We need to keep constant communication with our students and our parents and let them know how important it is. Attendance affects everything, and if the children aren’t here then they can’t learn what it is we’re trying to teach them. And we need to teach accountability to our students at an early age.”