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Marshalltown High School showcases programs, reports attendance gains and college-credit successes
Summary
MHS staff reviewed academic, career and extracurricular programs, reported improvements in daily attendance and highlighted students earning college credits and career certifications; the board discussed chronic absenteeism data and supports.
Marshalltown High School administrators presented a year-end summary to the board on April 21 highlighting career and technical programs, growing extracurricular participation, improvements in daily attendance and postsecondary readiness measures.
Administration reported enrollment of approximately 1,503 students at Marshalltown High School and described staffing and supports that include 95 certified staff, counselors, instructional coaches, a juvenile court liaison and partnerships with Marshalltown Community College (MCC). The presentation listed career programs such as construction trades, small engines, culinary arts (including ServSafe certification), digital illustration, pottery, laser cutting and other CTE offerings; 180 students were reported enrolled in certain CTE labs.
Leaders said daily attendance has improved from roughly 84% last year to about 92% year-to-date, and the school set a target to reduce chronic absenteeism from 49% to 44% by May 2025. Administrators credited attendance specialists, family outreach and partnership with other county agencies for incremental progress and said the school has new protocols for early contact and administrative meetings with families when chronic absenteeism is identified.
The high school also reported postsecondary accomplishments: the district expects about 20 students to graduate with an Associate of Arts degree from MCC and highlighted one student who will graduate with four A.A. degrees. The presentation noted work-based learning participation and an increase in supportive relationships measured on the Panorama student survey; one metric, self-management, showed declines prompting administrative attention.
Extracurricular updates included Special Olympics, athletics highlights (track qualifiers, golf and tennis reports) and student-run career events such as a culinary service night where students planned and served meals for 80 staff. Staff emphasized hands-on opportunities — construction students are building a storage garage tied to the Franklin Field renovation — as a driver for student engagement and retention.
Board members asked for more precise chronic absenteeism current figures and were told the district would provide updated numbers; administrators noted the state made changes to chronic absenteeism criteria this year, complicating direct comparisons to prior years.
Superintendent Schutte and high school leaders said they will continue to focus on attendance interventions, expand work-based learning and maintain connections that encourage students to participate in school programs and events.
