Episode Details

Happy Friday!

Welcome back, Bearcats! We hope your Thanksgiving break was restful and filled with joy. Now that we are recharged, it is time to focus on the final stretch of the fall semester. With just a few weeks left before winter break, this is a pivotal moment to reflect on our progress and lay the groundwork for a successful spring. I want to take a moment to thank each of you for your hard work and dedication toward achieving our performance targets this year. Your efforts make a lasting difference for our students and our community.

In this Wrap-up, we want to provide some in-depth analysis of our data for attendance and discipline and set the stage for the data deep dive we will be doing in our ATLAS Interim results.

Discipline

The discipline chart on our targets page provides a clear depiction of discipline referrals for the current 2024-2025 school year compared to the previous 2023-2024 school year. While the total number of referrals this year remains higher than last year, it is important to understand the context behind these numbers. This year, all buildings have implemented a comprehensive behavior matrix and have undergone THRIVE training. As a result, we are recording more infractions than in years past, which naturally makes our numbers appear higher. This reflects our commitment to consistency and accountability in addressing behavior, ensuring that all incidents are documented and addressed appropriately to support a positive learning environment.

It is encouraging to note, however, that the rate of growth in the gap between this year and last year is shrinking. This means that, as the semester has progressed, fewer new infractions are being recorded each week relative to earlier in the year. Early in the semester, the change percentage between this year and last year was consistently growing at a sharper rate. However, in recent weeks, this gap has started to stabilize and even reduce slightly, as evidenced by a smaller increase in referrals compared to previous weeks.

This trend suggests that our collective efforts to address discipline proactively and create a supportive environment for students are beginning to yield results. It is an important reminder of the value of consistent, data-driven approaches to student behavior and the power of teamwork in fostering a positive school culture. As we approach the end of the semester, let us continue to build on this momentum and aim for even greater improvements in the spring.

Attendance

The attendance data across Mena Public Schools presents a positive picture as we approach the mid-year mark. With an overall district attendance rate of 93.6%, we are slightly exceeding our target of 93.5%. This consistency highlights the dedication of our staff, students, and families in prioritizing regular attendance, which plays a crucial role in academic success.

Breaking the data down by individual campuses, Mena High School leads the way with a strong attendance rate of 94.3%, reflecting the efforts to engage older students as they prepare for post-secondary goals. Mena Middle School closely aligns with the district average at 93.6%, indicating steady performance in this critical transitional stage for students. Both Holly Harshman Elementary and Louise Durham Elementary have slightly lower attendance rates, at 93.2% and 93.1% respectively, but they remain within close range of the target. This consistency across schools demonstrates a district-wide commitment to maintaining high attendance rates.

Overall, this data reflects a positive trajectory as we move into the latter half of the school year. The continued collaboration among staff, students, and families will ensure we mai