By Shirley Shuman
Braxton County schools have shown a drop in the chronically absent rate since last school term, according to Timothy Via, Director of Secondary Education, Attendance, and Title IX. Via reported that the county chronically absent rate has dropped from 28.1% in the period of Aug. 15, 2022-Jan. 29, 2023 to 21.8% in the same time frame of 2023-2024. The director is pleased with the drop but hopes to see it lower even more.
Sutton Elementary led the seven schools that have shown improvement in 2023-2024, Via reported, as its chronically absent rate dropped from 18.5% in the 2022-23 period mentioned to 9.7%. Burnsville Elementary also had a significant drop from 27.7% to 17.7%. Only one school showed no lessening of chronic absenteeism during that time.
The director noted, “I believe that everyone understands the importance of students being at school every day unless they are too unwell or have a family emergency. We will continue to urge parents to do everything they can to ensure their children regularly attend school.”
Director Via expressed his appreciation of the efforts made to decrease chronic absenteeism. “I want to thank parents for their efforts and school staff for everything they have done. The improved attendance rate should be reflected in higher academic achievement and other improved outcomes,” he said.
Below are the chronically absent statistics for each school for 8/15/22 to 1/29/23:
Burnsville 7.2% Little Birch 28.6%
Davis 18.7% Sutton 18.5%
Flatwoods 26% BCMS 30.8%
Frametown 25.8% BCHS 30.7%
Below are the chronically absent statistics for each school for 8/15/23 to 1/29/23:
Burnsville 17.7% Little Birch 21.8%
Davis 12.8% Sutton 9.7%
Flatwood 19.6% BCMS 29.5%
Frametown 27.5% BCHS 22%
