We’ve all heard the spiel, our school is the third worst in the state for attendance. That’s why the attendance policy is so strict this year in comparison to the previous years. However, if you dig deep enough you can find the truth.

Somerset Berkley Regional High school, during the year of 2015 – 2016 has been the highest attendance rate of 93.5% since the 2007 – 2008 school year ( 93.4% ). Last year was the highest attendance rating over the past ten years. We are well above the number three spot for the worst in the state ( I stopped counting after 122 individual schools ). However the 2014 – 2015 school year was by far the worst out of the ten years I chose to analyze, going from 2016 all the way to 2006. The 2014 – 2015 school year the average number of absences per student rose to over 13 days.

Taking the average over the past ten years of attendance rate and average absent days per student, which is 12.16 days per student which, in reality, accounts for possibly 4-5 sick days and leaves the rest for other reasons as well as mental health days. Studies* have shown that students who take off 1 – 2 days per term ( or when feeling overwhelmed ) perform better afterwards than those who attempt to power through the struggles.

Looking overall at the attendance rate over the past ten years, the school does not seem to drop or rise drastically between two particular years. The largest gap is a 1% decrease in students between the school years 2013 – 2014 and 2014 – 2015. The school board claims the reasoning for such strict policies is that we are the third worst school district in the state for attendance.

My research shows that Brockton ( at an average of 92.7% attendance rate ) and Taunton ( 93.3% attendance rate ) are where we are at 93% are schools known for their somewhat bad reputation are in the same range for attendance as we are. Sure, the 2014 – 2015 school year was a particularly bad one. However if the attendance was so low, why have they waited until the year following one that was their best in the past decade (2015-2016)? Why wait until now to implement such a harsh policy and why are they saying we’re one of the worst schools when the top five worst schools are Phoenix Charter Academy, New Bedford – West Side Jr-Sr Hs, Fall River – Fall River Alt, Holyoke – Holyoke Alternative Program and Somerville – Full Circle High School.

Sources:

http://thelamron.com/2015/02/12/mental-health-days-crucial-stressed-students/

http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/state_report/indicators.aspx?mode=school&year=2016&orderBy=ATTENDPCT%20DESC