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Luray Elementary reports attendance gains, test‑score improvements and new programs
Summary
Administrators at Luray Elementary said chronic absenteeism declined about 13.09 percent this year, students with disabilities showed an 11.02 percent gain in English achievement and the school has implemented attendance incentives, family engagement nights and volunteer programs.
Luray Elementary School administrators reported improved attendance and preliminary gains on state tests during a monthly instructional presentation to the Page County School Board.
School leaders said chronic absenteeism dropped 13.09 percent year over year and that students with disabilities showed an 11.02 percentage‑point increase in English achievement in preliminary SOL results. Administrators said math SOLs were scheduled for the following week and that science and history results were still being finalized.
The presentation described several programs staff said supported those gains: a dedicated attendance coordinator who conducts outreach and meetings with families, monthly attendance incentives and an ‘‘attendance bash’’ that helped the school approach a roughly 95 percent attendance rate during April. Administrators said they used frequent phone contact, face‑to‑face conversations during car line, small‑group attendance meetings and incentives such as pizza parties and prize baskets.
Other highlights included Watchdog volunteer engagement — the speakers said about 10 men volunteered for the program this year and contributed nearly 500 hours — a new music teacher and a spring concert that showcased staff participation on instruments, and family engagement events such as a literacy night and a spring carnival scheduled for May 30. The school also partnered with Luray Middle School for a trunk‑or‑treat and reported student field trips tied to classroom lessons, including a fifth‑grade bowling trip for a unit on force and motion.
Board members praised the staff for ‘‘relationship building’’ efforts in attendance outreach and cited the school’s extracurricular and family events as contributing to a positive school climate. Administrators fielded questions about testing schedules and staffing and said they would continue to monitor SOL results when official scores are released.
