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MSCS outlines attendance goals, 'Show Up for Greatness' outreach effort and ZIP‑code door knock results
Summary
Stacy Davis presented the district's three‑tier attendance framework and the 'Show Up for Greatness' initiative, citing a goal to reduce chronic absenteeism 5% and to increase parent participation; staff reported targeted door‑knock outreach in ZIP codes 38127, 38109 and 38114 and enrollment of hundreds of previously absent students.
Stacy Davis and senior leaders told the Community Outreach & Engagement committee on Oct. 21 that Memphis Shelby County Schools is using a three‑tier attendance framework and a new outreach campaign, Show Up for Greatness, to reduce chronic absenteeism and truancy.
Davis said the district has set multi‑year targets driven by data: the district aims to reduce chronic absenteeism by 5% and reduce overall truancy by 2% by the end of the 2025–26 school year. The presentation included a caveat from the superintendent that slides reflected data pulled Oct. 3 and are therefore lagging figures.
Davis described the district’s outreach work this summer and early fall: staff identified chronically absent students on withdrawal lists, used attendance liaisons to make outreach calls and left door hangers on targeted addresses in ZIP codes 38127, 38109 and 38114 (with a planned follow‑up for 38111). As a result, staff said hundreds of students re‑registered by the first reporting period and the district will continue targeted door knock and parent‑engagement activities.
Key figures and context
- Total district enrollment reported by staff: 107,320 students (including charter schools); non‑charter enrollment: 87,075. - District goals for 2025–26 included a 5% reduction in chronic absenteeism and a 2% reduction in truancy; staff said these are tracked in Power BI and PowerSchool dashboards. - High‑risk groups include students in grades 9–12, kindergarteners, English learners and students experiencing homelessness; high school grades showed the highest absenteeism and truancy rates.
Board concerns and follow up
Board members asked whether attendance changed after the arrival of the National Guard; staff said preliminary analyses show no significant change in attendance since the Guard’s arrival (the Guard arrived Oct. 10; the data set presented closed Oct. 3) and promised updated analyses for the next meeting. Board members also asked for more granular data (e.g., year‑over‑year chronic truancy patterns, how many service interventionists work with parents) and suggested tracking partners’ returns on investment.
Next steps
Staff said they will continue to expand the attendance initiative (banners, school spotlights, parent academies, expanded recognition) and to centralize truancy roles under a newly hired truancy manager, Kelly Henderson. The district will report updated attendance data after Oct. 10 and will share more detail about partner contracts and program outcomes on request.
