PORT HUENEME : Program Improves School Attendance

Hueneme High School’s attendance record has improved because of a new program in which students take three to four long classes a day instead of six shorter ones, a school official reported.

The school, which has about 2,100 students, has a traditional nine-month school year but breaks it into four terms, with each lasting nine weeks or 45 instructional days. During the term, students can take three to four classes that last about 1 1/2 hours each, with a school day that runs from 7:25 a.m. to 2:35 p.m.

The fast pace of the term forces students to attend school, said Principal Terry Taylor, who reported on the experimental program Wednesday to trustees of the Oxnard Union High School District.

Class attendance jumped a full percentage point from 92.2% last year to 93.4% this year, a difficult thing to accomplish when attendance is already above 90%, Taylor said.

“It’s really crucial for kids to be here,” Taylor said. “They can’t have the syndrome of ‘I’ll sleep in today.’ The pace is fast and it is essential they be here in class. The kids’ awareness is heightened and so are the parents’ about being here.”

Grades have also been affected by the new program, with more A’s and Bs being given than Cs.

While there are still problems to be worked out, particularly with students who want to transfer to schools that are on the traditional two-semester system, Taylor said the program is more popular than anticipated.

“When we checked all transfer requests, no one said they hated this system,” she said.