TPS Focuses On Keeping Students In Class During Tulsa State Fair

Tulsa Public Schools says with the fair in town, student attendance usually drops, and behavioral issues increase.

Leaders with the district say attendance numbers are up this year and they want to keep it that way.

Tulsa Public Schools says in the past there has been an 8% drop in attendance during the two weeks of the fair compared to other school days.

This year, TPS Superintendent Doctor Ebony Johnson, prioritized reversing the pattern of chronic absenteeism. Oct. 1, 2024, marked the 29th school day of the 2024-2025 year. The district shared chronic absenteeism (CA) and average daily attendance (ADA) marks over the past three years:

1. 2022-23: CA = 37.1%; ADA = 89.5%
2. 2023-24: CA = 33.9%; ADA = 90.3%
3. 2024-25 (this year): CA = 32.1%; ADA = 90.9%

TPS says they are excited to see the current number because, for a district its size, that improvement over the past two years represents 1,689 more students regularly attending school.

Stephanie Andrews with TPS says while they want students to enjoy the fair, it's important for students to still attend school.

“My goal is for them to graduate. If you’re not in school, it’s impossible to keep up. I have two daughters of my own, so I know. It seems like just a few days here and there are nothing, but they actually start to add up. There’s so many academics happening all day long.”

She suggests attending the fair after school hours, so students don't have trouble getting up in the morning.

"If you did spend an evening out at the fair, we really want to encourage you to still make it in the morning," Andrews said. "We still want you at school. We still want you at school, even if you're tired, even if you're distracted. We do want you to leave things at home that you shouldn't have, but there is never a day that we don't want you at Tulsa Public Schools."

The district says students shouldn't bring fun items from the fair to school because it could cause distractions.