Mobile County Public Schools Superintendent Chresal D. Threadgill and Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood announced a dramatic decrease in truancy and chronic absenteeism rates during the past school year. MCPSS, the largest school system in the state, had a 50% decrease in truant students and a 58% decrease in chronically absent students.
“Attendance isn’t just a school issue; it’s a community responsibility,” Blackwood said. “These numbers prove that when schools, parents, and students lock arms, we can rewrite the story for thousands of kids across Mobile County. Fewer absences mean fewer suspensions, fewer dropouts, and fewer court cases down the line. That’s the kind of win that changes everything.”
During a joint press conference in Government Plaza in downtown Mobile on Monday, Threadgill and Blackwood recognized six schools that recorded the highest decreases in truancy for the 2024-2025 school year. They are:
• Vigor High School: 30% decrease
• Theodore High School: 17% decrease
• Washington Middle School: 27% decrease
• Semmes Middle School: 11% decrease
• Forest Hill Elementary School: 31% decrease
• Collins-Rhodes Elementary School: 21% decrease
“As educators, we recognize that attendance is one of the most important factors in a student’s success,” Threadgill said. “We do all that we can to encourage students to be present; however, we must also rely upon our parents and the community to make sure children are in class every day. I would like to thank District Attorney Keith Blackwood and his office for the hard work and the extra steps they have taken to make sure that parents understand the importance of making sure their children are in school and for the extra resources his office is providing through the Helping Families Initiative. His efforts have undoubtedly resulted in a higher attendance rate in Mobile County Public Schools, which, in turn, is resulting in higher academic achievement for our district.”
The Helping Families Initiative is a data-driven approach to improve truancy rates by encouraging community organizations and partners to work with at-risk students and families to overcome obstacles to education. The District Attorney’s office has provided extra resources for the program, using the theme “Every Day Counts.”
The DA’s office has also launched the Smart Summer initiative, a public engagement push designed to keep families focused and students connected during the break. Smart Summer programs include:
• Summer camps and activities
• Safety tips for teens and parents
• Tools for building strong school-year habits before August
“Our work doesn’t stop in May. That’s why this summer we’re staying loud, staying visible, and keeping the pressure on,” said Blackwood.