Drew Mason Elementary highlights higher-than-average SOL pass rates, new attendance incentives and reading initiatives

A Drew Mason Elementary representative told the Henry County School Board the school is fully accredited and reported recent Standards of Learning (SOL) results that exceed the state average: reading 77%, math 78% and science 72 for the prior year. The presenter emphasized three-year growth trends and highlighted strong outcomes for economically disadvantaged students relative to the state average.

The school described efforts to improve attendance, citing a chronic absenteeism figure presented for two reference years (7.3% in an earlier year and a higher 12.3% figure referenced for a later period) and a suite of student incentives, including monthly attendance parades, a mobile arcade visit, and special events to reward consistent attendance. The presenter said perfect-attendance counts rose from 38 in the program’s first year to 68 the following year.

For literacy, the school introduced an Accelerated Reader (AR) initiative led by media specialist Ashley Cox. The AR program will use monthly reading challenges, grade-level competitions, book bundles (themed boxed collections of books and small prizes), and staff-recorded story videos posted for families to encourage regular reading at home.

The presenter framed these initiatives as part of the district’s broader mission to build positive relationships, support students who are economically disadvantaged, and improve instruction through targeted programs.