By Jennifer Mrozowski
The Cincinnati Enquirer

CORRYVILLE - Cincinnati Public Schools' campaign to increase student attendance this year is working.

The district announced Thursday that it has achieved a 94 percent attendance rate so far, which officials hope will improve its rating on its state report card. The report card measures how well students perform on state proficiency tests, as well as their attendance and graduation rates.

Cincinnati Public has not met the state's minimum student attendance requirement of 93 percent since the state began issuing report cards in 1998. District officials say that has contributed to the district being labeled in "academic emergency," the lowest of five state rankings for student achievement.

But officials are optimistic this could be the first year they meet the attendance requirement.

School report cards for the 2003-04 school year come out in August.

"The challenge is greater in warm weather, but if we can continue to focus, we are in good position to meet or exceed state standards, which we've never achieved since report cards have been in existence," said district spokeswoman Janet Walsh.

Superintendent Alton Frailey, who launched the district's "Count Me In" attendance campaign to improve student achievement, sent letters to students and their families. Teachers and social workers have been contacting students and families to ensure good attendance and rewarding students with stickers and posters.

School officials launched the campaign after data in August 2003 showed that one-fourth of students enrolled in Cincinnati Public Schools didn't show up on the first day of classes.

Glenda Bauer, principal of College Hill Elementary, said she tells parents how important attendance is during interviews she has with every parent who enrolls a child.

College Hill Elementary also rallies kids by holding a pizza party for classes with perfect attendance.

"We do a lot of class challenges where teachers get students really involved and pumped up," said Jill Gassett, the school's social worker.

Competition helps, too.

"They love pizza parties," Bauer said. "They work together trying to get everybody there."

College Hill has a 96 percent student attendance rate.

E-mail jmrozowski@enquirer.com