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Weems Elementary says chronic absenteeism rate halved to 14% after outreach and staffing changes
Summary
Manassas school board member and Weems Elementary Principal reported a drop in chronic absence from nearly 28% in 2022–23 to about 14%, and linked improvements to staffing, community partnerships and targeted attendance efforts.
Weems Elementary School Principal Michelle Huffman and Manassas City School Board member Sarah Brescia told the City Council on Jan. 27 that the school’s chronic absence rate has fallen from nearly 28% in the 2022–23 school year to about 14%.
Huffman said the school adopted an approach she described as "start with the crown, not the kid," emphasizing equity and consistent expectations across classrooms. She reported a 24% increase in literacy pass rates for kindergarten through second grade and a 6% increase on third‑ and fourth‑grade Virginia Standards of Learning reading tests. Huffman also said…
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