FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2025
MOBILE, Alabama – At a press conference this morning, Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood announced a dramatic decrease in Truancy and Chronic Absenteeism rates for the 2024-2025 school year. Mobile County Public Schools, the largest school system in the state, had a 50% decrease in truant students and a 58% decrease in chronically absent students since District Attorney Keith Blackwood reinstated the Helping Families Initiative (HFI) a bold, data-driven approach to keeping kids in school.
HFI partners with our local school systems and community organizations to intervene early by reaching students and families before they are referred to the juvenile justice system. Under DA Blackwood’s leadership, the program has been revitalized as a cornerstone of the office’s approach to youth crime prevention.
Joined this morning by Mobile County Public Schools Superintendent Chresal Threadgill, District Attorney Blackwood recognized six schools who had the highest decrease in truancy for the 2024-2025 school year.
High School: Vigor High School- 30% decrease and Theodore High School – 17% decrease
Middle School: Washington Middle School – 27% decrease and Semmes Middle -11% decrease
Elementary School: Forest Hill – 31% decrease and Collins Rhodes – 21% decrease
“Attendance isn’t just a school issue, it’s a community responsibility,” said District Attorney Keith Blackwood. These numbers prove that when schools, parents, and students lock arms, we can rewrite the story for thousands of kids across Mobile County. Fewer absences mean fewer suspensions, fewer dropouts, and fewer court cases down the line. That’s the kind of win that changes everything.”
“As educators, we recognize that attendance is one of the most important factors in a student’s success,” said MCPSS Superintendent Chresal Threadgill. “We do all that we can to encourage students to be present, however, we must also rely upon our parents and the community to make sure children are in class every day. I would like to thank District Attorney Keith Blackwood and his office for the hard work and the extra steps they have taken to make sure that parents understand the importance of making sure their children are in school and for the extra resources his office is providing through the Helping Families Initiative. His efforts have undoubtedly resulted in a higher attendance rate in Mobile County Public Schools, which, in turn, is resulting in higher academic achievement for our district.”
The campaign, titled Every Day Counts is more than a slogan. It’s a county-wide reminder that showing up to school consistently is one of the most powerful decisions a family can make. As part of Every Day Counts, the DA’s office has launched a Smart Summer initiative, a public engagement push designed to keep families focused and students connected over the break. (https://mobileda.org/helping-families-initiative/every-day-counts/) features:
- Local summer camps and programs
- Smart safety tips for teens and parents
- Tools for building strong school-year habits before August
“Our work doesn’t stop in May. That’s why this summer we’re staying loud, staying visible, and keeping the pressure on,” said Blackwood.