MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — In the years following the pandemic attendance in Monongalia County Schools has been steadily improving. However, the district is still working to reach the state’s goal of 95 percent attendance for the school year.
Monongalia County Schools Director of Attendance Teddy Stewart said the district — which serves approximately 11,000 students — has seen attendance rise each year. Two years ago, the overall attendance rate was 91 percent, and last year it climbed to 93.5 percent, just shy of the 95 percent benchmark set by the state.
“Chronic absenteeism, that rate has gone from 17, to 16, to 15 percent,” Stewart said. ” So, are trajectory is headed in the right direction and we want to keep riding that and support that anyway we can in our schools.”
The pandemic created a maze of challenges, each unique to every family in the county. Questions surrounding social distancing, vaccines, masks, and transmission led to constantly evolving policies and widespread confusion among students and families.
“Everything was changing from masks to no masks,” Stewart said. “Some kids were dying to come back and I think a lot of parents wanted their kids to come back to keep them engaged.”
Stewart said four staff members are working with the elementary schools to improve attendance. The strategies involve weekly and monthly challenges, along with trophies and other forms of recognition. As students move up in grade levels, the incentives become more tailored and slightly more expensive.
“Every year we continue to lower that score,” Stewart said. “Our elementary schools do a phenomenal job, and every school is improving and that’s what the state wants to see is some type of improvement.”
According to Stewart, students have suggested a variety of incentives, including one request for a trip to Kennywood. One of the most popular challenges offered a reward of Zuls frozen lemonade for the school with the best attendance.
“That was a partnership with Rob Zuliani, we got it up here- South Middle School won that challenge and that was a close race,” Stewart said. “The middle and high school kids like the gift cards and we have a lot partnerships with restaurants in town.”
The motto for this school year is ‘Strive for 95,’ referring to the goal of 95 percent attendance. Stewart said attendance improved by two-and-a-half percent from 2023 to 2024, and he’s hopeful they can reach the goal this year.
“Not missing more than one day per month,” Stewart said. ” If a kid misses nine days in a school year they’re going to be at 95 percent and the chronic absenteeism in a school year is 18 school days.”