Schools Earn A’s for Student Attendance

While it may be hard for students at Balboa Gifted Magnet School and Nobel Middle School to roll out of bed each morning, their efforts to get to school on time every day have put them at the head of the class.

The schools’ respective 97.43% and 95.13% attendance records during the 1996-97 academic year were acknowledged Monday by Supt. Ruben Zacarias and Los Angeles Board of Education members in a ceremony at Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters.

Balboa received top honors for having the highest attendance rate among all district schools. Nobel was honored for best attendance among district middle schools for the second year in a row.

“We have a strong school-home involvement and I think that is the key to our success,” said Pansy Rankin, magnet coordinator at Balboa.

As a result of the supportive atmosphere at Balboa, the 660 gifted students in first through fifth grade want to attend school and put forth their best effort, Rankin said.

Similarly, the 1,900 Nobel students excelled in attendance because they are taught that they are “stakeholders” in their success, along with parents, teachers and staff members, Principal Rita Davis said.

“By coming to school on time every day, they are going to master the skills and curricula that will allow them to do well in high school and gain acceptance into the college of their choice,” Davis said.

More than 30 schools throughout the district were presented trophies for attendance or awards for most improved attendance.

Every 20 days, school attendance figures are entered into a computer database and analyzed by district officials, who determine the schools with the highest attendance rates.