September 3, 2026

Attendance is always a focus on campus, as staff and administrators work together to encourage positive attendance for every student in Hughson schools. “When you miss school, you miss out,” is the motto on campus and oft-repeated by Director of Student Services Eric Petersen.

The number one reason students miss is illness, Petersen said. School site officials keep an eye on how often and how long illnesses occur for a student, and become alert to any patterns in attendance that might indicate a deeper problem. According to Petersen, at the elementary school level, younger students attendance is usually guided by the parent, for older grade this switches and, with multiple ways to get to school, students may have more control. The cause behind missing class may be environmental, social, emotional, or physical, Petersen explained.

Hughson schools set a goal for a 96% attendance rate, so that across the board, an average of 96% of the student body attends school each day. Attendance varies by site, as younger students are impacted by illness and older students may miss class for school events. But whether excused or unexcused, those absences make an impact on the student’s academic life.

“It’s important that students are here,” Petersen explained. “They are there to learn; it helps them assimilate to the classroom, to know the rhythms of class, the teacher’s style and expectations. When they miss class, they miss out on that experience, the contact and daily class narrative.”

Whether in second grade or eleventh grade, that experience matters.

And it matters, even when the grades are good. Beyond the academics, “A lot of the resources that kids need are at school,” Petersen said. “We have kids that are struggling; we feel like we’re well positioned to help those students. If they have anxiety, whether it’s from a relationship with somebody, whether it’s at home or a peer, a health issue or a mental health issue or an academic issue, we have good people and good resources at school waiting to address those needs that students have. When they aren’t at school, they don’t have access to those supports.”

To encourage attendance, Petersen recommends these three things to parents.

First, make it a priority at home.

Families can adopt the mindset, “We go to school.” It sounds simple, but it can be easy for some families to fall into a too-relaxed mindset about the importance of attending each day for a full day. Keep in mind the benefit for students: special things happen on campus at each grade level, steady attendance keeps the classroom culture consistent, peer interaction is proven to be healthy for children, and there are a multitude of resources available to help students personally and academically who may be struggling.

Second, communicate.

If a family or their student is going through a challenging time, Petersen encourages them to communicate with their school site or teachers. “We can’t help what we don’t know,” he said. It can be very vulnerable, but communication can help school staff understand, help the family connect with resources, and move beyond treating attendance issues as a black-and-white process.

Third, be engaged.

“Parents have a lot of power,” Petersen said. Caregivers can log into the Aeries parent portal and see their student’s attendance. They can receive text updates and phone calls if the student is tardy or missing. Knowing there is a problem before it becomes a problem at the administrative level can help students stay on track for success.

Incentives help motivate students

And for students, each school site offers incentives to keep students motivates. At Hughson High School, each month features a different reward, from gift card drawings to ice cream bars to attending school plays during the day; the rewards culminate in a special drawing for cash gift cards, school merchandise and special experiences.

At Ross Middle School, winners for the highest school site attendance and recipients of the coveted trophy during the 2025-2026 State of the District, there are monthly drawings for Pizza Factory, Dutch Bros, and more. “We also do quarterly pizza parties where students can invite four friends. At the semester mark, we do big giveaways that include a $250 Visa card, custom Vans or Air Jordans, and headphones,” Principal Mary LaRosa said. LaRosa and Vice Principal Kevin Smith are also visiting student homes to reach out to families and communicate the importance of school attendance.

Fox Road Elementary School recognizes perfect attendance at the end of the year and, in recent years, has added more things throughout the year to keep the goal “doable and fun,” Principal Jeff Persons said. There are “Perfect Attendance of the Month” parties breaking the year-long goal into manageable chunks. “A student has the potential to be a part of eight of these or can really push themselves for one month if they are having trouble meeting the goal. These include incentives like doughnuts, cookies and treats,” Persons said.

Classrooms have a “Perfect Attendance” card. When the whole class is there, they cross out a letter. Once the class reaches the end of the word, they get an extra recess. Once they cross out “attendance,” they get a popcorn treat at recess for the whole class. The school also has “Monday Matters” to help brighten the day children are most often reluctant to attend. Activities, crafts, and greetings at the front gate with high school students or parents make it extra special.

Hughson Elementary School has also found success with its attendance celebration in which any student who had perfect attendance the previous month is invited to celebrate. Celebrations vary by weather and theme but may include a special series of games, treats or prizes, popcorn and a movie, or “shopping” for a toy in a pop-up reward store.