Dranesville Elementary in Herndon is tackling the chronic absenteeism problem it’s seen since the pandemic, and it’s doing so with a focus on “joy,” its principal says.
“When we walk in with joy, and are committed to cultivating that and spreading that, it does just that,” Principal Jamie Gadley says.
She’s having school leaders focus on that happiness and connection, and as a result, Dranesville’s absentee rate has declined.
In the 2022-2023 academic year, 20.6 percent of students at Dranesville missed 18 or more school days. The problem is one schools across NoVA and nationwide have seen. In Fairfax County, schools had an absentee rate of 17.1 percent in 2022-2023 and 12.8 percent a year later. Virginia pledged to cut statewide school absenteeism in half over the next five years. Last year, schools reduced chronic absenteeism from a pandemic high of 20.1 percent to 16.1 percent.
Other elementary schools in the Herndon pyramid experienced similar trends from 2022-2023 to 2023-2024, in data released Monday by the Virginia Department of Education: Aldrin went from 15.4 to 9.42 percent, Clearview 19.6 to 11.55 percent, Herndon 24 to 15.6 percent, Hutchison 15.2 to 9.31 percent, and Armstrong 16.8 to 9 percent, showing a dramatic decline.
How Dranesville Tackled Absenteeism
Here’s how Dranesville went from an absenteeism rate of over 20 percent to 6.9 percent, with a goal of getting down to 5 percent by spring 2025.
Gadley promptly created a dedicated attendance team that includes front office staff, family liaisons, and school’s counselors and social workers. By the end of the 2023 school year, the team found nearly 140 chronically absent students, with 36 missing school due to family vacations.
Gadley shifted the school’s culture, creating an atmosphere where students are excited to go to class and learn.
“We value the connection and prioritize it as part of the care that gets kiddos excited about coming to school,” she says.
Now, as students arrive at school, the team greets them with a high-five, hug, or handshake — small by significant efforts to engage students. Those who stop by the school registrar’s desk get a sticker. After the bell rings, counselors check attendance and engage students in finding missing classmates. Perfect attendance is recognized on school announcements, with classes often receiving visits from Drake the Dragon, the school mascot. Additionally, students with perfect attendance are entered into a raffle every 10 days.
“Being that core team allows us to respond to absences before students even walk through the door,” says Gadley.
Role of Teachers
Teachers play a vital role in student engagement, and Gadley, who used to teach, highlights the need for them to focus on building relationships and engaging students in learning. She believes that every student must attend regularly to benefit from their education, as 14.7 million U.S. students miss nearly a month of school each year, exacerbating dropout rates and achievement gaps.
“I take with pride the responsibility of removing any barrier that gets in the way of students learning and teachers teaching,” Gadley says.
Parents Are Crucial in Reducing Absenteeism
Success in reducing absenteeism is a team effort that includes active parent involvement. Schools with higher family engagement tend to have lower absenteeism rates. “We have an incredibly supportive and receptive school community,” Gadley says.
Parents can help by ensuring their children attend school daily and addressing issues proactively. Schools can improve attendance by clearly explaining policies and providing regular updates.
Counselor Melinda Ryan, part of the Dranesville attendance team, noted the importance of contacting parents to understand absences, discovering issues like missed buses due to power outages and families struggling after car accidents. Ryan stressed that every school day is essential and that missing school means missing valuable experiences.
Gadley emphasized the importance of communication with families about scheduling vacations outside school hours.
“Some families just needed us to ask that they not schedule that amazing vacation during school time. Others needed to hear that we welcome and want students to be present for as much of the school day as possible. Students can go to their dentist appointment and return to class,” she said.
While the effort has reduced absenteeism, Gadley said she believes in continuously assessing and improving strategies. The school will continue to work toward a 5 percent absentee rate through regular reviews of attendance and behavior data, rewarding good attendance, and promoting a positive classroom environment.
“What works, we certainly will continue,” Gadley says, emphasizing a commitment to addressing each student’s distinct challenges.
Feature image of Principal Jamie Gadley by Donnie Biggs/FCPS
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