SUMTER, S.C. — Educators say consistent attendance is one of the strongest predictors of student success — and one elementary school in Sumter County is setting a new standard.

Alice Drive Elementary School has been named the first-ever recipient of the Sumter School District’s “Every Day Counts” attendance award, with an impressive 95.4% student attendance rate.

The recognition comes as the district continues to tackle chronic absenteeism, a nationwide issue. According to Joyce G. Perkins, the Sumter School District’s Coordinator of Attendance Services, the district has seen significant improvement over last year.

“We have improved with our chronic absenteeism by 5-percent from last year this time,” Perkins said. “So the rate has dropped 5-percent in our 45-day counting period… for the

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