Birmingham School System celebrates increased attendance

Despite recent hurdles facing the Birmingham City School System, school leaders are celebrating an increase in attendance.

Superintendent Dr. Craig Witherspoon says on the first day of school there were 1,200 more students in class compared to the first day last school year. That is a 7% increase.

Witherspoon says attendance has also been up every other day this week, there is still work to be done. He wants to make the school system more attractive to parents and students.

"How to we create academic program that parents students want to have? How do we improve climate culture in schools really give parents a reason to stay here?" said Witherspoon.

Witherspoon says he believes the school system's "Ready Day One" campaign helped increase those attendance numbers. The campaign stressed how important it is for students to be ready and in school on day one.

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