Full list of Northern Territory school attendance rates across for 2021-22
Northern Territory schools have wound up for another year and their attendance scores are in. Check out how your school went here.
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Territory classrooms have packed up for the summer holidays and the scorecards are in.
The NT News can reveal the highest ranking schools on attendance rates and how they compare to the previous year.
Alice Springs School of the Air came out on top with an attendance rate of 96 per cent, while 18 other NT schools have also achieved attendance rates of 90 per cent or higher.
Three remote schools – Mulga Bore, Neutral Junction and Arlparra School – have also successfully boosted their attendance rates by about double.
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More than two-thirds of government schools are located in remote or very remote regions and many families move fluidly between communities.
About a quarter of schools also have fewer than 50 students.
Both of these factors mean that attendance rates can fluctuate and appear lower than reality.
Dhupuma Barker School in East Arnhem Land is just one example.
Head of Barker College Phillip Heath said while the data showed about two-thirds of students attended the community-led school throughout the year, 90 per cent attendance was actually achieved most days.
“Data can present differently depending on what’s going on in a community setting,” Mr Heath said.
“Families from other homelands often come in for a while and we will always take them in.
“But most of our core attendees never miss a day.
“One of our children missed her bus and then beat the bus to school on her scooter because she didn’t want to miss out.”
The independent school, which is less than two years old, is a partnership between Barker College in Sydney’s north shore, the Yothu Yindi Foundation and Gunyangara community.
Its model is a combination of Yolgnu knowledge systems and Western curriculum.
Alice Springs School of the Air is another standout, achieving an almost perfect attendance rate across its 119 students.
ASSOA principal Kerrie Russell credited the school’s success to its “innovative and engaging learning programs”.
“Our school proves that distance is no obstacle to learning and in fact distance encourages diversity and innovation,” Ms Russell said.
“We work closely with your child to develop them into well informed students who can set and achieve goals in their learning that gives them great options for their future.”