How Two Memphis Schools Slashed Chronic Absenteeism and What Others Can Learn.

School lockers symbolize student attendance challenges addressed in Memphis charter schools. Compass Community Schools significantly reduced chronic absenteeism through targeted interventions and a strong school culture. (Photo Credit: @moren/Unsplash)

Just two years ago, chronic absenteeism was a crisis at Compass Berclair, a public charter school in Memphis. During the 2021-22 school year, more than half of its students —55.5 percent—missed at least 10 percent of school days, threatening their academic progress and overall well-being.

But last year, Compass Berclair accomplished something few schools statewide have. It cut chronic absenteeism to just 7 percent.

Across town, Compass Hickory Hill—another campus in the same network—saw similar results, reducing its rate to 6%, according to a recent case study from the Tennessee Charter School Center (TCSC).  

“Our plan is nothing flashy. It’s just consistent,” said Kamie Cowan, Principal at Compass Berclair.

What is Chronic Absenteeism?

The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) defines chronic absenteeism as missing 10 percent or more of scheduled school days for any reason — including excused absences and suspensions. This measure has been a key part of Tennessee’s school accountability system since 2017.

But it’s not just about compliance.

“Excessive absences from school represent lost instructional time for students…it is important that we view attendance as more than a legal or compliance issue and try to understand what factors may be contributing to a student’s absences,” noted the department on its website.

Key attendance terms to know

How Compass Schools Turned the Tide

The TCSC report attributes Compass Berclair and Hickory Hill's success to three straightforward but effective strategies:

1.     Dedicated Attendance Teams: Each school built teams of counselors, secretaries, and staff focused on outreach—not enforcement. That kind of consistency, staff reported, helped rebuild trust and connection.

2.     Supportive School Culture:  Students are greeted by name each morning. Daily classroom routines and morning meetings cultivate a sense of belonging.

“Students feel seen—and that motivates them to show up,” staff noted.

3.     Engaging Families with Clear Communication: In communities where 94 percent of students are Latinx, bilingual and culturally relevant outreach was essential. Families received regular communication about the importance of attendance—and how every absence counts.

“The relationships we build make students and families know we care,” said Cowan. “That’s what drives change.”

About Compass Community Schools

Founded in 2019, Compass Community Schools operates six public charter schools across Memphis, serving over 1,400 students in K-8 and high school campuses. For the 2023-24 school year, five Compass schools earned a Level 5 growth rating on Tennessee’s TVAAS (Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System), the highest mark for student academic progress.

As a network of public charter schools, Compass receives state funding but operates independently from the local school district. This autonomy allowed leaders to adjust staffing, budgets, and schedules to implement their attendance strategies.

“These strategies work—and they don’t require major investments,” said Robert Vagi, senior director of research at TCSC. “Other districts can replicate this using their existing staff.”

Lessons for Other Schools and Families

The TCSC report encourages districts across Tennessee to pilot similar strategies, create dedicated attendance teams, and rethink exclusionary discipline policies.

And parents can help, too. Advocates say families should ask how their child’s school tracks and responds to absences and push for environments where students feel safe, welcomed, and connected.

“When students feel known and supported,” Cowan said, “showing up to school becomes something they want to do, not just something they have to do.”

You can find out more about Compass Community Schools at their webpage here.

Additionally, to learn more about The Tennessee Charter School Center and their study with Compass schools, visit this page.