UPDATE: Rochester Public Schools has confirmed that only 65% of students consistently attended classes during the 2024-25 school year, raising urgent concerns among officials and educators. This alarming statistic was revealed during a presentation to the Rochester School Board on October 21, highlighting a pressing issue that has garnered significant attention.
The district is now part of a pilot program alongside 11 other districts statewide, all tasked with combating chronic absenteeism. “Many schools have good practices, but with so many chronically absent students, it’s challenging to provide effective interventions,” said Angi McAndrews, RPS director of positive behavioral supports.
Consistent attendance is defined as attending classes for at least 90% of the time, and the latest data indicates that only 64.9% of students met this threshold. This is a slight increase from 64.8% in the previous year, yet it remains significantly below the state average of 75.5% for the 2023-24 school year.
The attendance crisis has roots in the disruptions caused by the pandemic, with only 53.5% of students achieving consistent attendance during the 2021-22 year. In response, the district has taken proactive measures, including hiring a truancy coordinator to spearhead initiatives aimed at improving attendance rates.
As part of the pilot program, Rochester is refining its attendance coding system to ensure uniformity across schools and districts. “There’s a lot of variation in how attendance codes are interpreted,” McAndrews explained. “We must correct our data to establish a reliable baseline moving forward.”
However, ambiguity remains regarding the criteria for marking students as “absent.” The district uses an attendance code “M” for students who miss part of a class, often due to tardiness. This designation complicates the overall attendance picture, as it is counted as an absence in official reports. “The ‘M’ designation helps us understand attendance nuances better,” said Angela Rodgers, Assistant Principal at John Marshall High School. Yet, the definition of how much class time must be missed remains unclear.
During a meeting earlier that day, Superintendent Kent Pekel addressed the issue with the district’s student school board, emphasizing the significance of clarifying the attendance policy. “This issue of the ‘Ms’ is critical. We need to establish a solid attendance policy to tackle this problem effectively,” Pekel stated.
The Rochester Public Schools community is now mobilizing to address this urgent issue. With the stakes high, students, parents, and educators are encouraged to engage in discussions about improving attendance rates and supporting those affected by chronic absenteeism.
As the district works towards solutions, the next steps will be crucial in determining how effectively these changes can be implemented. The community is urged to stay informed and involved as Rochester Public Schools navigates this pressing challenge.
