Alleghany Highlands Public Schools

These kindergarteners at Callaghan Elementary School were among students recently recognized by Principal Lisa Hansford for perfect attendance since the start of school in August. On Jan. 21, the Alleghany Highlands Public Schools Board will hold a reception to recognize all AHPS students who achieved perfect attendance in the first semester. 

AHPS Diligently Working to Tackle Student Absenteeism Issues

LOW MOOR— As part of continued statewide efforts to improve student attendance, Alleghany Highlands Public Schools is sharing additional information and reminders about chronic absenteeism.  

Virginia has improved student chronic absenteeism, or missing 10 percent or more of any given school year, since the COVID-19 pandemic.  AHPS has worked diligently to improve chronic absenteeism rates by providing opportunities for students to “recover” days out of school by attending extra sessions and several incentive programs.

“A significant amount of absences from school is detrimental to student achievement. I am happy to report that our absenteeism rate is trending in the right direction. We continue to partner with our parents to understand the barriers that are keeping their child from attending school and come up with solutions to get their child back in school regularly. Each school in our division has come up with creative incentives to get students excited to come to school daily. We also have attendance competitions among schools,” said Cindy Fox, AHPS’ supervisor of customized learning programs and division attendance.

Chronic absenteeism is different from truancy. However, both truancy and chronic absenteeism can affect academic performance. In general, students who do not attend school regularly suffer academically.   

“Good attendance habits are just that— habits.  Students need to come to school whenever they are well enough to do so,” shared Kim Halterman and Melinda Snead-Johnson, leaders of AHPS.  “We understand that life is busy and complex, sometimes resulting in student absences.  We also understand that our students will be better prepared for the responsibilities of adulthood if they practice fulfilling their day-to-day responsibilities with schoolwork. It’s a balancing act.”

“Following extended breaks, it is normal for students to need a little extra encouragement to head to school,” Halterman and Snead-Johnson said.  “After both the recent holidays and the recent weather, this may be especially important this year.”

Two Alleghany High School students, Joowon Chung, a junior, and Elijah Halterman, a sophomore, are serving as Virginia Department of Health youth advisors. In meetings with state officials and students from throughout Virginia, they have learned more about the implications of chronic absenteeism.  Chung participates in the Alleghany Highlands Advancement: Healthcare co-curricular program; similarly, Halterman is a student in the new Alleghany Highlands Advancement: Law and Political Science program.

“Serving on the VDH Youth Advisory Council has taught me a lot about how school absences often affect students' grades and emotional well-being. Students who miss school can fall behind academically, feel more stressed, and struggle socially. By discussing the reasons behind chronic absenteeism, like mental health challenges or lack of support, we can help schools find better ways to support students. These discussions with our council members can create changes that improve attendance and student success across schools statewide, which benefits everyone,” Chung said.

“It is incredibly difficult to entice secondary students into coming into school but it is something that needs to be done. Having students in seats for the school day is one of, if not the most important, aspects of their learning and education. It is an uphill battle but I think it can be done,” Elijah Halterman said. 

The Alleghany Highlands School Board is keenly interested in recognizing good student attendance and building relationships with the community. On Tuesday, Jan. 21, the school board will recognize AHPS students who achieved perfect attendance in the first semester of the current school year.  Invited students will be recognized at a reception before the board meeting to allow for the number of students involved and the provision of light refreshments.  

With approximately 2,700 students, AHPS was created through the July 2022 merger of Alleghany County Public Schools, Covington City Public Schools, and Jackson River Technical Center. The school division is jointly funded by Alleghany County and the City of Covington.