SHELBY — Shelby City Schools’ chronic absenteeism rate is down 15 percent since 2022.
Furthermore, the district’s attendance rate has increased by 2.5 percent since the 2021-2022 school year.
Shelby Assistant Superintendent Paul Walker presented an attendance report on Monday to the district’s board of education. Walker emphasized the importance of having every student in school every day.
“Our goal is we want to increase this (attendance) little by little every year,” he said, highlighting the district’s goal of raising the attendance rate by at least 0.5 percent each school year.
Including Shelby students who attend Pioneer Career and Technology Center, the district enrolls a total of 1,948 students.
The district’s attendance rate during the 2021-2022 school year was 91.9 percent and has continued to rise each year:
- 2022-23: 94 percent
- 2023-24: 94.1 percent
- 2024-25: 94.4 percent
Walker said following COVID-19, the attendance rate took a big hit. But since the 2021-2022 school year, the district has steadily increased its percentage.
The reduction in chronic absenteeism is equally significant. Chronic absenteeism is when a student misses 10 percent of the total hours of the school year, no matter if the absence is excused or unexcused.
Walker said the district utilizes several resources and partnerships to ensure students have the best chance to attend school each day. Some of those resources include an attendance officer, as well as the district’s school-based health center.
“I think attendance (this year) has been really good. We just want to keep it that way,” he said.
Shelby spotlights students, staff members
Several Shelby students were spotlighted during Monday’s meeting, including seven who earned perfect scores on the Ohio State Test during the spring of the 2024-2025 school year.
Fifth-grader Brooklyn Gilger earned a perfect score on her science test, while sixth-graders Emilia Korbas and Kendall Korbas boasted perfect scores in math.
Bella Britt and Aerick Titchenell also scored perfect in the eighth grade math exam. Britt took the test as a seventh-grader.
High school students Micah Guertler and Adam Haymaker earned perfect scores in American History.
Walker told board members that a special recognition wall has been created for display at the district’s pre-K-8 building, which will keep a running list of students who have earned a perfect score on the state test.
Other high school students highlighted for a variety of efforts — and recommended by their teachers — included Andy Ball, Zurie Brozene, Riley Cantleberry, Brock Fisher, Sophie Penn and Hope Timko.
Two staff members — Bobbi Weaver and Mike Hunter — were also spotlighted for their contributions to the district.