The Cost Of Low School Attendance

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Lowndes County School District is possibly looking at losing several thousand dollars after today’s low attendance rate.

The state pays school districts for the amount of students who are at school for the day.

Average daily attendance is a big part of the funding district receive each school year.

Superintendent Lynn Wright says school attendance needs to be 90% each day and it can be critical when attendance drops to less than 50% of attendance.

“Right now, we’re paid on the average daily attendance so if the students are absence if you only have, if you’re averaging 60% on that day, you just get paid for 60% of the students,” says Wright.

The threat not only costs the district, but also the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department.

Increased security were at all three schools in the district.