Flerentin 'Flex' Jean-Baptiste, who missed so much school he had to repeat his freshman year, highlighted the need for fresh engagement, saying, 'You do the same thing every day, that gets very frustrating.' His participation in lunchtime organized sports became a motivating factor, helping him cut absences in half. 'It gave me something to look forward to,' he noted, exemplifying how opportunities for engagement can crucially impact school attendance.
The principal's initiative at Medford High led to a significant decline in chronic absenteeism, with the school's percentage of chronically absent students falling from 35% to 23% over a year. This achievement outshines trends across the nation, where chronic absences still affect roughly one in four students. Before the pandemic, absences were at 15%, showcasing the critical impact of innovative school programs in combating post-COVID attendance challenges.
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