DES MOINES, Iowa — The number of students missing class in Des Moines Public Schools is decreasing, but the district isn't satisfied with the results just yet.
In a three-year time period from 2021-2024, the number of students who are chronically absent — or missed two or more days of school a month — decreased by nearly 8%.
The district started its "Every Day Matters" campaign to address chronic absenteeism earlier this year.
"The numbers are dropping right, and it's going in the right direction," said DMPS Superintendent Ian Roberts. "But we are not going to stop until we can get below 20 percentage points. And many people will say that that's an ambitious goal, but we are going after it."
In the 2021-22 academic school year, nearly half of the district's students were chronically absent. The following year, the chronic absenteeism rate dropped to 46%, and during the 2023-24 academic year the number decreased to 42%.
But DMPS wants to keep improving aside from student absenteeism.
Going into the current school year, teacher retention has remained consistent within the district. It's something Roberts credits to recruitment efforts.
District and school leadership positions are 100% staffed, and its certified staff positions — including teachers — are at 99%.
Another issue Des Moines Public Schools is working to address is improving access to preschools in the metro.
Roberts said he's working with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and state legislators to consider all-day preschools for families at the 185% poverty rate to ensure everyone can attend.