Over the last two years, the Tucker County High School has achieved a significant milestone with regards to the rate of student absenteeism. During the 2023-24 school year, the rate of chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10% or more of the school days, was reduced from 37% to 27%. During the past year, the rate was reduced even further: from 27% to 15%. According to Erin Marks, the Tucker County High School Communities in Schools Site Coordinator, reducing chronic absenteeism results in fewer adults in prison, dependent on government assistance, or being unemployed. Ms. Marks further explained that “when kids go to school, they are more likely to have access to a balanced diet, achieve in their academics, and possess more grit for the challenges they will face” in life.
Achieving this dramatic turn-around was accomplished through a team effort by the school staff, led by Ms. Marks, with financial support from the Tucker County Giving Circle. Attendance is tracked weekly to determine which students have and are more likely to miss school, with individual attention being given to those identified students. It has been determined that incentives and positive reinforcements have a greater impact than punitive measure. Noting that is it often the students who perform well academically and on the sports field who receive the most attention, Ms. Marks and the staff reward those students who might feel they are unseen and seldom receive praise or recognition. This acknowledgement comes in the form of “I Believe” cards, given to those who demonstrate improved academics or attendance, or have made a good decision. The cards may be used to purchase items from the Mountain Lion Lair store.
Other incentives include small prizes for student who miss no more than one day of school in that month, and birthday presents for students who might not otherwise feel that their special day is noted. All this is accomplished through on-going communication with each student, individually, as they are supported in their journey to achieve their personal goals.
Ms. Marks commented that “we have made great progress, but 15% means there are still 40 students enrolled in our school that we need to reach” for the 2025-26 academic year to achieve a chronic absenteeism rate of 13%. The cost of many of these incentives was made possible through a grant awarded by the member-supported Tucker County Giving Circle, a local not-for-profit organization with the mission of supporting women and children in Tucker County through the development of life skills. For more information on how to join or to contribute to the Tucker County Giving Circle, email the group at TCGCofcrs@gmail.com.