For several years, attendance at FHN has been on the decline. Assistant principal Dr. Monica Perry explains how the low attendance rate is a complex issue with a multitude of causes.
“There is a significant increase in student absences,” Perry said. “A lot of students are not coming or have parents calling them out for…things we are not always able to verify.”
Oftentimes, these unverified reasons pertain to mental or physical health. However, according to Perry, certain grades struggle with attendance for a different reason.
“The senior class is having some issues with attendance,” Perry said. “That’s just really because [seniors] are ready to go. The ‘senioritis’ issue is a real thing…in our country.”
Certain freedoms come with being an older student that may be impacting their attendance rates as well.
“Having the freedom also to drive, the students think, ‘should I come to school?’” Perry said. “Yes. But if they have a car, that means that their parents may think that they’re being responsible all the time, and sometimes they aren’t.”
The amount of time a student is present at school also plays a role in the declining attendance rates. FHN offers many programs to students in hopes of increasing their opportunities, however, these programs sometimes involve leaving school early, which can cause attendance rates to suffer.
“With our CAPS and Lewis and Clark programs, [students are] counted as present for the time that they’re there,” Perry said. “But when they leave and when they come in, they’re supposed to check in to show that they are back on campus. But if they never come, then those count as absences for them.”
FHSD School Board President, Steven Blair, explains that it is important for students to consistently come to school in order for attendance rates to reflect positively on the district.
“[We want to make sure] we have a culture that is attractive [in our schools],” Blair said. “The hope is that every student…helps shape the culture that Francis Howell is the absolute best place to be in St. Charles County.”
