COVID-19 Attendance: Harborcreek School District

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Harbor Creek School District has experienced a notable decline in student attendance, prompting concerns among the school board and administration. Between 2021 and 2025, all five schools within the district, which includes one high school, one middle school, and three elementary schools, observed a drop in their attendance ratings on the Pennsylvania Future Ready Index. Research identified three primary factors contributing to this trend: an increase in vacation days, a rise in medically excused absences, and a surge in parental excuses related to mental health issues. For instance, attendance at one elementary school plummeted from 97.2% in the 2019-2020 school year to 80.6% in 2022-2023. To investigate these issues further, the research aims to determine which demographic groups are most affected by different absences and how these absences correlate with academic performance on state assessments such as the PSSA and Keystone exams. The study will also explore the effectiveness of court-imposed consequences for habitual truancy and whether these measures influence attendance patterns post-court intervention. The research employs a quantitative approach, utilizing attendance data from PowerSchool and academic performance metrics to identify correlations between absences and student achievement. Findings from this study will inform the development of new policies aimed at addressing attendance issues, supporting both academic success and compliance with district goals. As the district seeks to decrease the number of students missing 18 or more school days annually by at least 3%, this research underscores the necessity of a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing attendance and the effectiveness of current intervention.