Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott and the CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools, Dr. Sonja Santelises, spotlighted Vanguard Collegiate Middle School for exceptional improvement in student attendance, celebrating their victory in the first quarter of the ‘Mayor’s Attendance Challenge.’ The initiative, which began at the start of the 2023-2024 academic year, singles out schools that have made strides in boosting daily student attendance. Vanguard Collegiate Middle stood out for the first quarter, reducing its chronic absenteeism by 27% compared to other schools in the area.
During the recognition event, the Mayor underscored the positive trajectory of student presence within educational realms. “I am so proud of Principal Cofer and the students, faculty, staff, and families of Vanguard Collegiate Middle School for their rapid reduction in chronic absenteeism,” Mayor Brandon Scott stated, per the City of Baltimore press release. Attendance, he noted, influences not just academic success but the holistic growth of youth, underlining the importance of the progress achieved despite attendance challenges presented since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. His vision zeros in on continuous district-wide improvement, emphasizing, "we still have so much more work to do across the district to ensure every young person is in school on-time, every day."
The efforts at Vanguard Collegiate Middle School have been a collaborative push, with strategies that include home visits and constant attendance monitoring. According to Dr. Santelises, these strategies have paid off. “The staff at Vanguard under Principal Cofer’s leadership have been working hard to connect with families around student attendance,” she said in the city's press release. The progress presented by Vanguard is clear evidence of the efficacy of these interventions. While the work is ongoing, such achievements are being acknowledged with the support of the Mayor's initiative.
Visit the official press release for more information about the Mayor’s Attendance Challenge and other initiatives focused on Baltimore City Public Schools.
