The Charleston County School District (CCSD) has reported a slight increase in student attendance for the 2025-2026 fall semester, with an overall attendance rate of 94.1%. This marks an improvement over the past two years, but district leaders acknowledge there is still room for growth.
Focus on Middle and High School Attendance
Superintendent Anita Huggins shared that younger students, especially in Pre-K 3 and elementary grades, are showing higher attendance rates compared to middle and high school students. The district is focusing its efforts on improving attendance in these older grade levels, with targeted interventions to address the issue.
Incentive Program to Encourage Attendance
In an effort to boost attendance, CCSD introduced a weekly incentive program earlier this year. Families receive $25 if their child attends school all five days. According to the district, this approach has proven to be more cost-effective than traditional methods, such as hiring truancy officers.
Notable Improvement Among High School Seniors
High school seniors saw the greatest improvement in attendance, with a 7% increase from the previous year. While there is still work to be done, the district is encouraged by this trend and remains focused on finding creative solutions to further improve student attendance.
