ATTENDANCE CHAMPS: School Wins National Competition | Schools

A Des Moines high school has won a national student attendance competition.

The scheme, run by Get Schooled, crowned East High School champions in the Foundation’s Fall Attendance Challenge for the second consecutive year.

East High School’s overall attendance increase was 2.68 percent during the fall challenge.

A total of 225 middle and high schools signed up to participate with more than three quarters of schools participating boosting their school attendance.

 “The students at East High School have amazed us again this year with their extra effort to make it to class and work hard in school,” said Steve Johns, East High School Principal.

The school can now expect a celebrity to act as principal for a day in Spring. Past Get Schooled “Celebrity Principals for the Day” have included Nicki Minaj, Ne-Yo and Big Sean.

Attendance is seen as one of the best predictors of high school graduation and college readiness rates.