Attendance up in SCCPSS, potential challenges ahead

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - On Friday, Savannah Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS) leaders provided an update on the first quarter of the school year, highlighting improvements in student attendance and graduation rates, while also addressing ongoing challenges related to funding and other factors.

Attendance on the rise

District leaders reported that system-wide attendance has reached 80% as of October 3, hitting the target rate for the school year and marking a 3% increase from last year. This is a notable improvement from the 2023-2024 school year’s initial 74% attendance rate (based on students attending 90% of school days), which rose to 77% last year.

“I’m really proud of our parents and our students who are recognizing that attendance truly matters, being at school, showing up matters, in many ways. Beyond academics, but also socially,” said Superintendent Dr. Denise Watts.

Elementary schools are leading the way in attendance, followed by middle schools, and then high schools, which currently stand at a 73% attendance rate.

To encourage consistent attendance, the district has implemented several initiatives, including attendance sweeps, a remote learning option for students to use five days out of the school year, and a learning recovery program that allows students to make up up to five days of instruction per semester.

Read: School lunch, attendance policy changes explained by SCCPSS

Chief Academic Officer Derrick Butler emphasized the link between attendance and academic success, noting a 0.4% increase in district-wide graduation rates, with Beach High School seeing a significant 10-point spike.

“There is certainly a lot of work that we continue to do and that we need to continue to do to make sure that each and every single student in our district is showing up to school so that they have opportunities to walk across that stage and transition to college, careers, and other opportunities,” Butler stated.

Addressing literacy and future challenges

Beyond attendance, the district continues to prioritize literacy. Leaders acknowledged that continuing to make progress will be critical amidst a complex and sometimes unstable environment.

Dr. Watts addressed concerns about how the district will navigate financial uncertainties, including potential shifts in federal funding and declining enrollment. A significant political action, House Bill 782, which would establish a homestead exemption for taxes contributing to SCCPSS, will be decided by voters in November. If passed, this could further impact district finances.

“There will be increased accountability as it relates to how we are using our finances so that we can continue to do the things that we know are getting return on investment,” Dr. Watts explained, emphasizing the need for strategic financial management.

Read: Chatham County voters to decide on school-tax homestead exemption in November

The superintendent also touched upon the impact of immigration enforcement on students, urging anyone facing challenges in getting their child to school to reach out for support.

“Let us know what those challenges are so we can step in and intervene and make a way for students to get to school each day,” she said.

Despite these complexities, Dr. Watts affirmed the district’s unwavering commitment to its mission: “Things are extremely complex and sometimes unstable, but I will say there is a 100% commitment to doing what’s best for kids and that’s what I see showing up from the adults in our schools each day,” says Dr. Watts.