We have some truly fantastic news to share that is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire school community: chronic absenteeism in the Algona Community School District is on an incredible downward trend!
You may know that chronic absenteeism—defined as a student missing at least 10% of the school year—has been a major challenge for schools across the nation, and Iowa is no exception. Statewide, chronic absenteeism soared from 10.9% in 2018 to 21% in 2022. Algona CSD experienced similar impacts, with 19% of our students chronically absent in 2022. We all know that when students miss too much school, it can negatively impact their academic achievement, social-emotional learning, behavior, and long-term success.
But our district decided to do something about it, and the results are truly something to celebrate!
A Collaborative Effort Pays Off!
Determined to change this trajectory, Algona CSD launched a concerted effort to combat chronic absenteeism. We created a special webpage and videos to inform parents about the importance of attendance, and our administrators, teachers, and office staff went above and beyond, making countless calls and home visits to provide support to families. This was a challenging task, but the effort has been paying off in a monumental way.
Remarkable Results!
The numbers are simply astounding and a source of immense pride:
2022: Algona CSD was already ahead of the curve with a 19% chronic absenteeism rate, below the state average of 21%.
2023: We saw a significant drop to an incredible 13%!
2024: The percentage dropped again to a remarkable 8%!
By comparison, in 2024, the average chronic absenteeism rate was 11% for schools in the Prairie Lakes AEA and 13% for the state of Iowa. These numbers clearly show that Algona CSD is a leader in this critical area!
Superintendent Joe Carter applauded the incredible work of the entire staff, sharing these celebratory figures at the district's Welcome Back meeting on August 18th. He emphasized that every single staff member—from our incredible custodians and bus drivers to our dedicated food service staff, office staff, and teachers—plays a vital and integral role in supporting our students and ensuring they attend class.
The Algona Community School District will continue this vital work, relentlessly fighting chronic absenteeism to ensure every student has the opportunity to thrive!