Wicomico schools report drop in chronic absenteeism to 19.4% so far in 2024–25; district launches "Arrive to Thrive" campaign

District staff told the Board of Education on Feb. 26 that chronic absenteeism has declined to 19.4 percent to date in 2024–25, down from 25 percent at the end of last year, and outlined a coordinated "Arrive to Thrive" attendance campaign the district launched to sustain improvements.

Why it matters Chronic absenteeism—students missing 10 percent or more of school days enrolled, excused or unexcused—correlates with lower academic outcomes. The Maryland State Department of Education and Accountability panels have proposed a statewide target of 15 percent by 2025–26; district staff said that is their target as well.

Data and approach - Trend: presenters said post-pandemic chronic absenteeism peaked at about 37 percent in 2021–22, fell to 25 percent in 2023–24, and stands at 19.4 percent to date for 2024–25. - Proficient standard: staff said the state identifies a proficient attendance rate at 94 percent and advanced at 96 percent; district average daily attendance has been improving toward that range. - Multi-tiered approach: school climate foundations (relationships, safety, engagement), school-based attendance teams, root-cause analysis, family outreach, incentives and recognitions, mentoring and targeted interventions for at-risk students. - Campaign elements: staff described a districtwide "Arrive to Thrive" campaign using billboards (previously), rack cards distributed through pediatric offices and community centers, monthly social-media graphics, public-service announcement videos featuring community leaders and students, and quarterly school trophies for schools with the lowest chronic absenteeism and highest attendance rates.

Results and examples Staff reported that every school’s chronic-absenteeism rate year-to-date is below where it stood at the same point last year, that 76 percent of schools currently meet or exceed the state proficient standard of 94 percent attendance, and that Wicomico Middle School showed the largest improvement (about a 14 percentage-point improvement vs. the prior year’s comparable period).

Next steps Staff said they will continue the campaign, expand outreach channels, and support schools with data-driven attendance teams and targeted intervention plans. Board members discussed school-level record-keeping consistency, comparative reporting among high schools, and effective secondary-school strategies such as home visits and individualized success plans.

Ending Staff emphasized the need to sustain the campaign into future years to create long-term attendance improvements and credited cross-district coordination and community leaders for helping lower chronic absenteeism to date.