Dysart “Attendance Matters” Campaign Culminates with Celebration for Winning School

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 05/08/2026

DYSART SCHOOLS - With improving student attendance as a top priority, Dysart Unified School District conducted a districtwide “Attendance Matters” campaign the past three years. The campaign incorporates friendly competition among schools through an attendance contest, as well as regular messaging about the importance of school attendance.  The 2025-2026 campaign culminated with Asante Preparatory Academy’s contest win, and a celebratory Barbeque lunch on April 24 followed by frozen treats donated by Toyota of Surprise, along with other donated giveaways to reward the students for their hard work. Special thanks goes to Germain Honda of Surprise, Toyota of Surprise, Peter Piper Pizza, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Uptown Alley, and Elevate Trampoline Park for supporting this year’s contest. 

The attendance contest started in September, with two schools competing against each other each week. Schools planned their own activities for their competition to encourage student attendance, with many hosting spirit days, and contests between grade levels or classes. Weekly winners were determined by the highest percentage increase of each school's attendance rate for the week of the contest compared to each school's rate the week prior, so the focus was for each school to improve their own rate the most. After the regular matchups, the top schools entered the “Attendance Matters” Madness playoff period that mirrors the annual “March Madness” college basketball event. The playoffs began with a Sweet 16 tournament with the top 16 schools, then Elite 8, Final 4, and finally it ended with the Championship and one school as the overall district champion. In 2023-2024, Marley Park Elementary School took the win, and last year it was Freedom Traditional Academy.  

Anyone interested in donating to support the upcoming Dysart attendance campaign can email publicrelations@dysart.org or call 623-876-7195.