LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Office of Education has announced the winning schools for the 2018-2019 Attendance Challenge.

This was a countywide competition with nearly 10,000 Lake County students participating.

The winners were determined based on the highest average attendance data over two different weeks within the 2018-2019 school year.

The winning schools are:

– Kelseyville Preschool: 93.59 percent
– Upper Lake Elementary School: 97.33 percent
– Terrace Middle School: 95.140 percent
– Konocti Education Center: 92.17 percent
– Clear Lake High School: 96.64 percent
– Hance Community School: Best overall improvement in attendance

The competition for the top spots was fierce, particularly in the middle school category. Middletown Middle School took second place, missing the top spot by only 0.003 of a percentage point.

Upper Lake Elementary School not only had the top attendance rate for all elementary schools, they had the top attendance rate for all Lake County schools with an average attendance rate of 97.33 percent.

“Thank you to the students, families, teachers and school staff for taking the Attendance Challenge seriously,” said Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg.

Falkenberg added, “I’d like to thank the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake Tribe for their generous financial contributions to the winning schools.”

Each winning school will receive $500, an “Attendance Challenge Winner” banner, and bragging rights for the next year. Schools are encouraged to use the money to support and celebrate good attendance.

“The leadership of the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake Tribe is proud to support the efforts of Lake County Office of Education to spotlight the importance of and promote school attendance,” said Sherry Treppa, chairperson of the executive council.

Rob Young, Lake County Office of Education’s Emergency Services/Special Projects Coordinator, organized the event. He explained, “Our goal was to have an event that would stimulate positive conversation about the importance of student attendance at school.”

“With chronic absenteeism being a true concern for Lake County students, LCOE staff brainstormed solutions to help educate the students, parents and community on the importance of attendance. And thus, the Attendance Challenge was born,” added Falkenberg.

For more information on the top three winners in each category, please go to www.lakecoe.org. You can read more about attendance at www.lakecoe.org/Attendance.