Hancock Middle-Senior High School has made “remarkable strides in creating a positive, engaging, and supportive environment for all students” according to Principal Jennifer Ruppenthal.
As the new school year approaches, she shared some of the significant attendance improvements achieved over the past two years.
“These positive trends include a reduction in chronic absences and growth in yearly attendance,” Ruppenthal said.
Chronic absenteeism in the State of Maryland is defined as any student missing 10% of school, or about 18 days. Being chronically absent negatively affects a student’s academic success and personal development, school officials point out. 
That chronic absenteeism has been a challenge for schools nationwide. The concerted efforts of Hancock Middle-Senior High School are yielding “fantastic results,” Ruppenthal has said.
“Over the past year, the school has seen a 10% notable reduction in chronic absences and the staff believes increased communication and collaboration with students and parents have played a crucial role in ensuring students attend school consistently,” said Ruppenthal.
During the 2021-22 school year, the year to date attendance was 87.07% with a 52.77% rate of “not chronic” absences. Overall, there were 111 students whose attendance rates classified them as chronically absent.
“The YTD attendance increased 1.74% the following year, with an increase of 8.17% in not chronic students, and a decrease in number of chronic students,” Ruppenthal reports.
Last school year, the year-to-date percentage increased to 89.77%, the “not chronic” percentage also increased to 71.27% and a drop to 74 chronic students.
While the growth might seem like a small percentage, Ruppenthal said it represents a significant step forward in the school’s ongoing efforts to foster a culture of regular attendance.
“This growth indicates that more students are recognizing the importance of being present in school, which is essential for their academic success and personal development,” she said. “The positive trends at Hancock Middle-Senior High School are a testament to the hard work and dedication of the students, staff, parents, and community members.”
“By working together, we have created a more supportive, engaging, and respectful school environment,” she said.
As the school continues to build on these successes, Ruppenthal said they are confident the school will remain a place where every student can thrive and achieve their full potential.
“Let’s celebrate these achievements and look forward to even more positive developments in the future,” Ruppenthal said.
Additional student and parent support is needed to reach the Hancock Middle-Senior High School goals for the 2024-25 school year, which are to improve the year-to-date attendance to 92% and reach 84% of the student population not chronically absent.
