Victoria ISD continues to make strides in improving student attendance through its districtwide Showing Up for Excellence attendance initiative, launched at the beginning of the school year. The initiative centers on the VISD Attendance Commitment, which outlines shared expectations and actionable strategies for students, parents, campuses, and the district to support academic excellence through consistent attendance.
The VISD Attendance Commitment reinforces that showing up is a shared responsibility.
It establishes a unified standard for attendance expectations, fosters open communication between home and school, and provides clear guidance for families to understand how attendance affects both learning and state accountability. The Showing Up for Excellence attendance initiative equips campuses with practical tools and resources to identify barriers, track progress, and celebrate success in keeping students engaged and in class every day.
At the October Board of Trustees Regular Meeting, Vickers Elementary and Cade Middle School were recognized as the first recipients of the new VISD Attendance Trophies for achieving the highest attendance percentages for the first nine weeks. These trophies will travel to campuses that demonstrate the strongest attendance rates each grading period, encouraging friendly competition and celebrating collective effort across the district.
Campuses have embraced the initiative with creativity and commitment, developing school-specific programs to sustain high attendance rates. Examples of campus-driven efforts include:
Themed Campaigns and Spirit Days- Campuses have launched creative attendance campaigns such as “Attendance All-Stars,” “Strive for 95,” or “Show Up and Shine,” incorporating themed dress-up days, classroom competitions, and visual attendance progress trackers.
Family Engagement Initiatives- Schools host events like “Donuts with Grown-Ups,” “Family Attendance Nights,” and parent workshops to build awareness and strengthen the home-school connection around the importance of daily attendance.
Incentive-Based Recognition Programs- Schools have implemented weekly and monthly attendance challenges, rewarding students with certificates, classroom celebrations, extra recess, or small prizes for perfect or improved attendance.
Regular school attendance is essential for student success. Under the Texas Education Code, students are required by law to attend school each day that instruction is provided. Beyond compliance, the benefits of attendance are clear. Students who attend school consistently are more likely to master academic skills, build stronger relationships, and stay on track toward graduation. Each day missed represents lost learning opportunities that can impact long-term achievement.
VISD’s focus on attendance aligns with its mission of Achieving Excellence for All. Through shared accountability, strategic supports, and a districtwide culture of showing up for success, the Showing Up for Excellence attendance initiative is helping students grow and maintain their path to excellence.