July 14, 2025 – At a time when district leaders continue to stress the importance of regular attendance, many Team Duval schools are exceeding expectations.
Thanks to the successful implementation of key interventions and strategies, several schools experienced significant growth in school attendance during the 2024-25 school year, with some posting percentage point increases in the double digits.
We spoke to the principals of three of those schools –– Pickett, Cedar Hills, and Northwestern elementaries –– to learn more about what it took to see turnarounds, and what they’re doing to sustain them.
Shifting School Culture at Pickett Elementary School
Successful School Stats: Decreased Absences by 10%
For Principal Violet Stovall, the key to improving Pickett Elementary's attendance issues was clear –– change the school culture.
“One of the biggest things that has worked for us is building a school culture where students want to come to school every day,” said Stovall.
Staff worked to adopt a mindset centered around celebrating students. Throughout the school year, students with good attendance were rewarded with pop-up celebrations, monthly certificates, congratulatory announcements, and more.
“From the custodial staff to the monitors to every member of the administration team –– every single person here celebrates students. Everyone,” shared Stovall.
In addition to incentivizing students, teachers were more intentional about connecting with parents. This included making calls if students missed two or more consecutive days of school.
“The thing is letting them know we do care, and we need them there,” explained Stovall. “That missed lesson is something that’s crucial that they’re going to be assessed on, and that they need to move to the next grade level."
Pickett’s counselor and school social worker additionally conducted weekly home visits, personally checking in on students and families. In the end, the school's efforts worked. Staff saw a 10% decline in absences, as well as significant academic growth.
“If you look at the growth of some of those students who had those attendance issues, our data reflects they made gains this school year,” said Stovall. “Why? Because they were here, and it’s been noted in their data.”
Addressing the Whole Child at Northwestern Legends Elementary
Successful School Stats: Students Missing 20+ days dropped from 61% to 37% by April
The plan to turn around Northwestern Legends Elementary School’s attendance began in the summer leading up to the 2024-25 school year. A group of school leaders and teachers spent time strategizing and set a goal –– to decrease the number of students who missed 20 or more days of school by 15%.
It was a target Principal Kimberly Brown said was attained and exceeded throughout the year, thanks to a “whole child” strategy.
“I think the kids felt like we cared a lot about them, and so they did their very best this year” shared Brown.
One strategy involved using early release days to connect with families of absent students. Teachers and staff committed to either calling parents or making home visits.
“We drove the neighborhood,” Brown explained. “We went knocking on doors and the first question was, ‘Hey, we miss your baby. What additional resources do you need?’”
Recognizing student success was another key to the school’s plan. A monthly “Atten-dance,” open to students who demonstrated exemplary attendance, quickly became a hit.
“The kids were excited, of course. But they don’t really dance,” said Brown with a laugh. “So it became you can dance in the gym, or you can go outside and run around.”
Community partners also bolstered efforts by providing additional incentives and addressing socioeconomic barriers. By April, chronic absences at Northwestern Legends were down to 37%, compared to 61% the year prior. What's more, students emerged with stronger academic performances and self-esteem.
“My kids started to have confidence and believe in themselves,” said Brown. “They built inner motivation, so now it’s intrinsic.”
“All Hands on Deck” at Cedar Hills Elementary
Successful School Stats: Overall Attendance Increased by 18%
According to Cedar Hills Elementary School Principal Marva McKinney, “Continuity is everything with children.” So when it came time to develop an attendance-boosting strategy, staff did so by building strong routines and systems.
“It became a main focus for me,” said McKinney. “We knew we had to this as a collective, I needed all hands on deck.”
One of the school's first strategies was to identify students who missed 15 or more days of school. Staff worked to engage in relationship-building techniques with their families, including making regular phone calls.
McKinney also used events like the school’s “Safari to Sucess” to share literature with parents highlighting the connection between attendance and academic performance.
“When they see how much you’re paying attention, they make a valiant effort to make sure their kid is in school,” said McKinney.
Reviewing absences on a bi-weekly basis also proved to be a successful part of the school’s strategy. As staff continually monitored which students had excessive absences, the school’s counselor and social worker responded with home visits and other interventions.
Equally important to the school’s turnaround were regular celebrations. This included “Show up and Shine” celebrations, quarterly ceremonies, and prizes awarded with help from local partners. By the end of the school year, Cedar Hills experienced an 18% boost in attendance, as well as increases in their Progress Monitoring scores.
“I saw a difference in their behavior,” said McKinney. “Academic progress improved, and (so did) their overall well-being.”
Continuing the Work Next School Year
Despite these successes, these principals agree –– their work is far from over. Looking ahead to the fall term, they plan to maintain momentum by building upon the strategies they know to be effective. That, above all, includes taking every opportunity to encourage and celebrate student achievement.
“What do you do to want students to come (to school)? You celebrate them,” said Stovall.
“Everything (district leaders) have told us that helps with the improvement involves monitoring, collaboration, having incentives, and celebrating (students),” added McKinney. “Celebrate, celebrate, celebrate!”