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Ralston reports 77-student enrollment dip; district highlights chronic absentee concerns at high school
Summary
District officials reported 3,436 students enrolled this year, 77 fewer than a year earlier, and described mixed attendance trends: gains at many grades and schools but 484 chronically absent high-school students that officials said require continued intervention.
Ralston Public Schools reported 3,436 students enrolled for the current school year, 77 fewer than the 3,513 reported a year earlier, officials said.
Doctor Harley (district official) gave the enrollment update: "We are, as of today, at 3,436 students. A year ago, we were at 3,513. So that means we're at 77 kids fewer." The district said most grade levels were up year to year except kindergarten, fifth, eleventh and twelfth.
Superintendent Buckingham and district staff detailed factors behind the numbers, including 33 midterm graduates and 23 senior withdrawals this year. "We did have 33 midterm graduates this year in twelfth grade ... and then we had 23 senior withdrawals this year," Buckingham said while describing how early graduations and withdrawals affect reported senior counts.
Attendance and chronic absenteeism Buckingham reviewed attendance data and said the district still aims for a 95 percent average-daily-attendance goal. He summarized mixed results across schools: several elementary schools and the middle school showed improvement; the middle school increased its attendance over the prior year; the high school has improved but remains behind other buildings.
Buckingham flagged chronic absenteeism as the more persistent problem: "Ralston High School, we've got 484 kids that are chronically absent, and that's too big a number," he said. District staff described chronic absenteeism as driven by multiple, sometimes transient causes'1student mobility, family work schedules and other barriers to regular attendance.
Officials also explained how state data rules can inflate chronic-absence counts for students who enroll for only short periods and then move away, because some absence measures remain in the record for the school year.
What the district is doing The board discussed efforts to monitor at-risk students and interventions to improve attendance across buildings. Officials said improving middle-school attendance is expected to have downstream benefits for the high school.
Provenance Topic introduction: Enrollment update: "We are, as of today, at 3,436 students. A year ago, we were at 3,513." (meeting transcript) Topic finish: Chronic absentee discussion: "Ralston High School, we've got 484 kids that are chronically absent, and that's too big a number." (meeting transcript)
