Strong student attendance is the foundation for a quality education. For Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) 2025 Student Board Members Mi’Kah West, Avery Hurd, and Naomi Babatunde, attendance is more than just showing up. It is an investment in their futures.

The student board members said, when students are physically present in school, they make connections with teachers and peers, improve their academics, and learn skills that prepare them for higher education, careers and life.

“Students benefit from attending school for better networks, academic improvement, and real-world readiness,” said Babatunde. “Good attendance also aids in strengthening discipline, resilience, and knowledge that are beneficial to not just experiences like school or work, but that you can apply to yourself every day.”

DPSCD high school students are compensated for perfect attendance through the Perfect Attendance Pays Initiative. Students who have perfect attendance during a two-week cycle (10 school days in a row) will receive a $200 gift card for each cycle, potentially earning up to $1,000. The program started on January 6, 2025.

Finding Your Why to Attending School

For West, school is not just about academics. It is where West discovered her passion for leadership and advocacy through her involvement in extracurricular activities such as a business and marketing club and student government. West said these experiences have served as inspiration for her future endeavors as she prepares for college and her career.

Babtunde said school is where Babtunde expresses herself academically and artistically. She also enjoys the school’s support system, which she said is found in her peers and teachers. Hurd added he enjoys learning new things at school.

“What motivates me personally is knowing that every day at school is an opportunity to learn something new and prepare for my future,” said Hurd. “I want to reach my goals, and being present is the first step to achieving them.”

The student board members encouraged their peers to find their motivation for attending school.

“I always tell my peers, find your why. Maybe it’s your dream career, your family, or proving to yourself that you can overcome obstacles,” said West. “For me, it’s a mix of all those things. When I was younger, I struggled with finding my purpose, but now I see school as a stepping stone to something greater. I also think celebrating small wins—whether that’s completing an English project or just making it through a tough day—can keep you going.”

Students Still Face Systemic Barriers in Attendance

West added that the District and the wider community should continue to find solutions to break down the systemic barriers students face in school attendance.

“Programs like Perfect Attendance Pays are a great way to reward students, but we can’t ignore the systemic issues that impact attendance,” said West. “I’ve personally had to juggle responsibilities at home and extracurricular activities that sometimes conflicted with school. I think it’s important for schools to listen to students’ stories and offer flexible support—like mental health resources or transportation options—to make attendance more attainable. At the end of the day, every student deserves the chance to succeed, and that starts with being present in school.”

At DPSCD, we currently offer a mental health hotline for students to seek support and many partners who can provide useful resources. In addition, DPSCD opened Health Hubs in the community to not only support students but also their families.

“We want to remove attendance barriers and address the challenges we know DPSCD families and students face,” said Alycia Meriweather, Deputy Superintendent, DPSCD.

For more information, please visit Student Services on our website.