GILES COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) - School leaders in Giles County are taking a family-focused approach to addressing chronic absenteeism across the district.

Front and center at Macy McClaugherty Elementary School, A sign proudly reads 96.4% of students were at school yesterday.

It’s something Assistant Principal Tara Johnson said they celebrate.

“We value our kids, we love our kids,” said Johnson. “So we really want them to be here, be attentive learners and just create lifelong learners.”

Attendance numbers in Giles County Public Schools haven’t always been that high. In recent years, an average of 20% of students across all schools were considered chronically absent, meaning they missed 18 or more days of school.

130 of those students missed 30 or more days last year.

“Since the pandemi

See Full Page