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Fountain-Fort Carson High School uses positive recognition to improve attendance

When students at Fountain-Fort Carson High School walk the halls on Fridays, they may have a question for Principal Tony Greco: “Am I getting $100 this week?”

The question comes from a weekly attendance drawing designed to give students an extra reason to be at school. Students with perfect attendance are entered into a random drawing for a $100 check, and the drawing starts over each week so students have a new chance to participate.

The idea grew out of a grant the school received through Kaiser-Permanente that could be used to support attendance efforts. Greco, who previously worked in business, began thinking about the incentives employers use to encourage people to show up for work.

“When people show up to work on time, they get bonuses,” Greco said. “Can we give kids bonuses for being here?”

The school’s approach appears to be gaining students’ attention. Greco said about 375 students qualified for the drawing during its first week. That number grew to 470, then 500 and eventually 600 students.

At the same time, the school has seen its chronic absenteeism rate drop from 39% to 28%.

For Greco, though, the $100 is only one part of the strategy. The school’s “Be Present” message encourages students to be present not only in the classroom, but also in their school community.

The school is also exploring other ways to recognize students, including prizes students value and opportunities to celebrate students publicly.

Greco hopes the approach encourages other schools to think differently about attendance.

“So many times we look at attendance as what are punitive ways to get kids’ attention,” Greco said. “Give them something to be excited for, and you’ll see a bigger difference.”