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Murfreesboro schools report slight enrollment dip and uptick in chronic absenteeism
Summary
District staff told the board April 29 that enrollment fell by 12 students in the most recent reporting period and that chronic absenteeism and truancy showed modest increases, particularly among kindergarten and first-grade students; administrators said they are monitoring the trends and continuing outreach and wraparound services.
Murfreesboro City Schools administrators reported a slight enrollment decline and a rising trend in chronic absenteeism during the April 29 board meeting.
The district’s period-7 report, ending April 11, showed enrollment about 12 students lower than the prior reporting period, leaving total enrollment just over 9,300 students. Administrators said average daily attendance remained largely consistent but called attention to increases in chronic absenteeism and truancy for the reporting period. Presenters said the change is modest but is the second consecutive period showing a small enrollment decrease, which is being monitored.
Officials noted the increases in chronic absenteeism are concentrated among younger students in kindergarten and first grade. District staff reported targeted work with principals, the attendance team and wraparound resources has reduced some long-term absences compared with previous years; they cited an example of a student with seven weeks of unexcused absence last year who is now under one week this year after supports.
The administration said the district provides a 10-parent-note allowance (combining excused and unexcused notes in the chronic-absence metric) and that part of the chronic-absence trend may reflect changes in how those notes are used. The board asked staff to continue monitoring, to communicate with families and to focus on attendance ahead of end-of-year assessments and summer-school planning.
