How Prince William County Schools Got an A for Attendance

Like many districts nationwide, Prince William County School District (PWCS) has grappled with rising chronic absenteeism since the COVID-19 pandemic. The challenge is significant: during the 2021–22 school year, 19.4% of students missed 10% or more of the academic year.

The following year brought even more concerning trends.

Chronic Absenteeism on the Rise

By the second quarter of the 2022–23 school year, 23.5% of students—over 21,000 children—were chronically absent, a 4.1% increase from the year before.

Additionally, an earlier report revealed that 29% of county students missed five or more days in that same quarter. The PWCS School Board recognized the urgent need for a solution, understanding that chronic absenteeism not only undermines academic performance but also disrupts students’ sense of belonging and social-emotional growth.

“We know that there is a correlation between absenteeism and classroom performance. Stated simply, better attendance is associated with higher grades,” said Dr. Michael Neall, PWCS Director of Research, Accountability, and Strategic Planning.

Dr. Neall also emphasized the importance of fostering connections:

Faced with these challenges, PWCS leaders sought innovative solutions to improve attendance rates.

Rolling Out “Attention to Attendance”

To combat the rising absenteeism rates, PWCS launched “Attention to Attendance,” a comprehensive program powered by SchoolStatus Attend.

This initiative employs a data-driven communication strategy designed to:

• Prioritize consistent follow-up with families.
• Execute multimedia attendance campaigns targeting schools with the highest absentee rates.
• Notify families of absences electronically, followed by staff-led outreach.
• Host “re-engagement nights” to connect with families needing additional support.

How School Communication Makes a Difference

The “Attention to Attendance” program is already delivering positive results. By the third quarter of 2022–23, chronic absenteeism rates had leveled off, with 18.7% of students categorized as chronically absent—a slight but promising improvement.

Beyond the numbers, the program provided significant relief for educators and staff, automating tasks like attendance notifications and letters, enabling them to focus on supporting student success.

The Role of Integrated School Communication

PWCS’s success highlights the critical role of proactive, data-driven communication in tackling absenteeism. With the support of SchoolStatus Attend, the district has been able to:

• Reach every family in their preferred language using multilingual text, email, and mail campaigns.
• Turn attendance data into actionable insights to guide outreach and interventions.
• Engage families consistently with two-way translatable communications, video chats, and re-engagement events.
• Save teachers and staff hours of time by automating attendance management processes.

A Path Forward for Improved Attendance

PWCS’s “Attention to Attendance” program demonstrates how a combination of strategic outreach and robust communication tools can positively impact chronic absenteeism. By prioritizing attendance and leveraging the power of SchoolStatus, PWCS has taken critical steps toward building stronger school-family connections and ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive.

Learn More

Discover how your district can use SchoolStatus Attend to improve attendance and create stronger school-family partnerships. Schedule a demo today!