In the previous years, the attendance rates among the students at Sheridan High School have increasingly become a problem. Students just do not want to come to school. Because of this, the Sheridan High School staff implemented a system in the last quarter of the 2016-2017 school year. This system was put in place to try to uncover the reasons why these rates have dropped so low and to give an incentive for students to attend, and help students get to school. Staff such as Cindy Dahl, Tom Schnatterbeck, and Anne Travis helped create this program. “These barriers include gas money, a way to school, and even just something as simple as motivation. Something that needs to be brought back is a student’s interest in learning,” said Schnatterbeck.  But this year, there is no sign of the program’s return.

  In an interview with Schnatterbeck, he said “attendance rates have become more of a concern in the previous years.” This raises the questions, where is this incentive program, and when will it come back?  Dahl was the primary organizer of this program, but due to her recent transfer to Sheridan Junior High School, the program has dropped off of the map. “The program was working well, but because it was brought about so late in the year, it was too early to determine its long-term success.” Travis said.

  Students that have issues with attendance usually have what is called an attendance block. These blocks include family issues, motivation at home, ways of getting to school, or motivation to stay in school once they are here. “One of the greatest problems with students is skipping class; because of this, we try to give the students incentives to stay in school,” said Travis. Students skipping class has become a problem this year, and the counseling team is looking for any way to stop it. “School attendance is very important for a student’s success, and high school graduation is more important than some students realize,” Travis said. Basically, some of these students that have problems with attendance do not realize the repercussions of not finishing high school.

  In the United States, the average salary of a high school graduate is around $30,000 per year, meanwhile the average annual salary of a high school dropout is around $20,000 per year, a full $10,000 less than the average high school graduate according to an article done by PBS.org. In the coming years, the counseling team will be working hard towards compelling students to come and stay in school.