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Thomas Jefferson Elementary recognized for attendance improvements and large test-score gains
Summary
Thomas Jefferson principal Rochelle Acousto presented three years of data showing reduced chronic absenteeism and large cohort gains on state ELA and math tests; the school reported strong family engagement and incentive strategies to support attendance.
At the Sept. 16 board meeting, Rochelle Acousto, principal of Thomas Jefferson Elementary, presented a school recognition report highlighting attendance improvements, family engagement and multi-year gains on state tests.
Acousto said chronic absenteeism decreased by about 2 percentage points over three years and that the school’s “low-risk” attendance rate increased. She described targeted attendance interventions for months when absences spike (December, January and March) and said the school has an incentive cart with student-chosen items (T-shirts, mugs, visors and other items) to reward consistent attendance.
Acousto also presented state-test cohorts, reporting large multi-year gains in third- through fifth-grade proficiency. She said third-grade ELA had increased “by a 78% total increase” over three years and third-grade math “94% increase.” Acousto reported fourth-grade ELA gains of 42% and math gains of 26% over three years, and said fifth-grade proficiency rose 52% in ELA and 185% in math for the cohort progressing through the grades. She attributed gains to family engagement and teacher effort; the presentation noted 97% of families attended at least one after-school event last year.
Board members praised Jefferson’s work and asked about details of the attendance-incentive program; Acousto described monthly tracking and a system that identifies students with near-perfect attendance for reward selection. No policy or budget action was taken as part of the recognition.
